A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Agricultural Systems and Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009

Agriculture has promoted significantly from the wide-scale utilization of tractors and allied implements. The tractor cannot be regarded in isolation from the implement, nor from the environment in which both the tractor and implement are working. The tractor»implement combination forms a system consisting of a set of interacting components, with environmental constraints provided by the terrain and atmosphere. The competence of work is mainly depending on the handling of the implement with respect to the tractor. In this study, tractor three point hitching system was evaluated to observe the tractive performance of a two wheel drive tractor and effect of draft forces on fuel consumption. The strain gages were installed directly on the three point hitch linkage and system was calibrated. Special instrumentation set up \vas prepared to measure the draft [ClITes, working depth of implement, working speed of tractor and fuel consumption. The study was performed with three moisture content levels, three working depths and three forward speed of tractor. It was found that the draft forces were increased with increased working depth and working speed. Also it was found that at high moisture content level the slip of tractor wheel increased at higher rate than low moisture. The specific fuel consumption was increased with increased drawbar power and increased moisture content. The dynamic traction ratio was observed inverse in nature with respect to drawbar power.