Ajay Kumar Sharma

Maximizing Tractor Performance Through Ballast and Inflation Pressure: an Approach for Reducing Fuel Consumption and Improving Tractive and Field Efficiencies for Heavy Draft Operations Ajay Kumar Sharma

Agricultural operations are carried out using tractor to improve pull and propulsion. Tractor ballast and inflation pressure individually and in combination, affect the tractor performance in terms of fuel consumption, drawbar force, slippage, field capacity etc. It has been observed that farmers more commonly use ballast for stability of the tractor rather than improving its performance especially for the heavy draft operations. Also inflation pressure is maintained in the tyres keeping in mind the regular use of tractor and personal experience. This leads to higher fuel consumption and lower field capacity and efficiency of tractor and implement finally resulting in economic loss to the farmer. The users and manufacturers are required to maximize the tractor implement performance thereby increasing the profits from agriculture. Selection of suitable ballast and tyre inflation pressure combinations is of great importance to operators, farmers and tractor manufactures especially for heavy draft operations i.e. primary tillage operations.