| | The most effective way to reduce fuel costs associated with tillage is to till less, says Lawrence Papworth, a long-time Farm Machinery Engineer with the AgTech Centre in Lethbridge.
“Fuel consumption is affected by a number of factors, including equipment type, speed, depth, soil type, crop residues, soil moisture content, field shape and the number of tillage operations,” he says.
But studies have shown that fuel cost savings are substantial when a direct seeding system is adopted over a conventional till system, says Papworth. “The fuel cost per acre pegs direct seeding at $2 per acre and $5 per acre for conventional till. But a $4 to $5 difference is quite common.” When these studies were done, farm diesel fuel was $0.30 per litre. Today’s fuel prices are at least double that.
This can mean thousands of dollars in savings, says Papworth. Those savings aren’t as clear when comparing a strictly no till system to direct seeding where optional procedures meant to maximize return, such as harrowing, spreading pre-emergent herbicide and so forth, are added into the mix.
A producer must weigh all the costs and benefits of adopting such a system, but there is no doubt reducing tillage will reduce fuel consumption, says Papworth. “Changes in input costs, planting rotations and timing as well as new equipment are examples of costs that might be factored in.
A farmer isn’t going to adopt a direct seeding system because of fuel savings alone, but when added to the benefits of increased yield (depending on the soil zone and weather), soil conservation and reduced time in the field, it is an option worth considering.”
In the Dark Brown Soil Zone of Alberta, crop yields are similar or higher in direct till or no till systems than in conventional till systems. Crops perform better in dry conditions because direct seeding and no till systems preserve moisture in the soil.
Reducing the overall depth that double-shoot openers must go will also save on fuel and often improve crop emergence, says Papworth. But farmers shouldn’t plant too shallow, he cautions.
“The best way to save on fuel is keep the tractor parked. No till and reduced till operations are a good way to do just that,” adds Papworth.
Gear up, throttle back
For ideal tractor efficiency, match the tractor power to the load, says AgTech project manager Reed Turner. “If you have a 200-horsepower tractor and 100-horsepower load, it’s not as efficient as a 100-horsepower tractor and 100-horsepower load.”
While nobody would ever buy a 100-horsepower tractor to pull a 200-horsepower load, a lot of people will buy a 200- horsepower tractor to pull a 100-horsepower load, “because you never know when you might need that extra power,” Turner humorously observes. “That’s just human nature, to buy bigger than you need, whether it’s a house or tractor.”
When a load requires less than 70 percent of the tractor’s power, a farmer can save fuel by shifting to a higher gear and slowing engine rpm to maintain the desired speed. This practice is sometimes referred to as GUTB (Gear Up, Throttle Back). “So the speed is the same, but the gear is higher and the engine is running slower. That loads the engine again and brings it back into that ‘sweet spot’ where fuel is being used most efficiently.” Recently introduced IVT and CVT equipped tractors are automatic high precision versions of this technique.
Tips for working in GUTB mode
- Use GUTB when the load pulled requires less than 70 percent of the tractor’s power.
- Engine speed can usually be reduced by 20 or 30 percent below rated engine speed.
- Don’t overload or lug the engine. Visible black smoke is often an indicator of an overloaded diesel engine.
- Make periodic checks for optimum GUTB settings. Work for a short time at desired speed and throttle setting. Then quickly open the throttle. If the engine easily speeds up, the setting is suitable. If the engine does not respond, shift down a gear or increase the engine speed. Perform the check again and adjust as required.
- Remember that GUTB also reduces PTO speed and reaction time for tractor hydraulics.
|
|