Improving fuel and energy efficiency in agricultural tillage is critical for sustainable farming and reducing environmental impacts. In this study, the effects of forward speed and tillage depth on the fuel efficiency parameters of a tractor-chisel plough combination were investigated under controlled field conditions on clay soil. Specific fuel consumption (SFC), fuel consumption per unit area (FCPA), and overall energy efficiency (OEE) were evaluated at four forward speeds (0.6, 0.95, 1.2 and 1.4 ms-1) and four tillage depths (15, 19.5, 23 and 26.5 cm). SFC ranged from 0.519 to 1.237 LkW-1h-1, while OEE varied between 7.918 and 18.854%. Higher forward speeds significantly reduced fuel consumption and improved energy efficiency, whereas deeper tillage increased fuel use and reduced efficiency. Optimal operation occurred at speeds of 1.2-1.4 ms-1 and shallow to medium depths. Five machine learning algorithms: Polynomial Regression (PL), Random Forest Regressor (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Decision Tree Regressor (DTR), were applied to model fuel efficiency parameters. RFR achieved the highest accuracy for predicting SFC, while PL performed best for FCPA and OEE, with the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) below 2%. Models such as PL and RFR excel in data structures dominated by nonlinear relationships. These results highlight the potential of machine learning to guide data-driven decisions for fuel and energy optimization in tillage, promoting more sustainable mechanization strategies and resource-efficient agricultural production.

In wheat threshing, reducing total grain loss and energy consumption is crucial for both economic and sustainable food security. This study investigates the effects of threshing drum type (straight and helical row), drum peripheral speed (36.73–48.98 m s−1), and drum-concave clearance (35–50 mm) on total grain loss and specific fuel consumption in a stationary threshing machine using a full factorial design. The optimum machine settings (drum type, peripheral speed and drum–concave clearance) that simultaneously minimize these two outputs were then determined. We systematically compared three surrogate modelling approaches—Response Surface Model (RSM), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)—to identify the most effective method for small-dataset optimization in threshing machine design. The best model was selected through cross-validation, and optimization was performed using the NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm. GPR yielded the highest prediction accuracy for both outputs (R2 in prediction data: 0.99 for total grain loss and 0.91 for specific fuel consumption). Multi-objective optimization revealed a conflict between the two objectives; the best balance was achieved for the helical drum at a peripheral speed of approximately 41.5 m s−1 and a drum–concave clearance of 50 mm (predicted total grain loss approximately 3.7%, specific fuel consumption approximately 2.98 mL kg−1). Compared to the straight-row drum, the helical drum provided lower losses and fuel consumption, as well as approximately 3.5 times wider safe operating range. It should be noted that this optimum was predicted by the surrogate model and agreed closely with the best measured treatment; it was not confirmed by an independent validation experiment. The results demonstrated that combining a surrogate model with a genetic algorithm is an effective tool for optimizing threshing machine parameters.

Improving energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of crop production are critical for sustainable agriculture, particularly in semi-arid regions where resource use efficiency is essential. This study evaluated the effects of different fertilization strategies on energy use efficiency and carbon footprint in maize production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2023 growing season in Konya Province, T & uuml;rkiye, using a randomized block design with three treatments and three replications. The treatments included an unfertilized control (U1), inorganic fertilizer application (U2), and liquid animal manure application (U3). The results showed that the highest grain yield was obtained in the liquid manure treatment, which was 2.08 times higher than the unfertilized treatment and 1.18 times higher than the inorganic fertilizer treatment. The highest total energy input was recorded in the inorganic fertilizer treatment (26,235.12 MJ ha-1), while the highest total energy output was observed in the liquid manure treatment (203,154 MJ ha-1). The liquid manure treatment also showed higher net energy efficiency, output-input ratio, carbon efficiency, and carbon sustainability index, while producing the lowest carbon footprint per unit of product. These findings indicate that liquid animal manure can improve maize productivity while enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in semi-arid agroecosystems.

Optimization of operating parameters of soil tillage machines that require high energy in agricultural mechanization processes is of great importance in terms of reducing energy input and increasing efficiency. Discrete element method (DEM), one of the numerical simulation techniques, has been widely used in simulation studies on determining the operating parameters of soil tillage machines and their effects on the soil in recent years. In this study, DEM simulation was used to determine the effect of different chisel tine on the soil and the draft force. The results obtained from the experiments conducted in the soil bin were compared with the DEM simulation. As a result of the tests carried out at two different depths, the R, MSE and epsilon values determined to compare the draft forces obtained from the DEM simulation and the soil bin were found to be 0.99, 6853.59 and 10.43 for 20 cm working depth, and 0.993, 8401.974, 8.49 for 28 cm working depth, respectively. The values of R, MSE and epsilon determined for the deformation area were found as 0.997, 1375.1 and 7.04 for 20 cm working depth, and 0.975, 3196.75, 5.39 for 28 cm working depth, respectively.

The goal in centrifugal pump designs is to achieve maximum efficiency. Even small percentage increases in pump efficiency provide high overall energy savings in pumps that operate for long periods of time, especially those that use high-power motors. While fan and casing structures are designed in line with this goal, many structural features affect the efficiency of the pumps. In the study, pump performance values of the 5” horizontal shaft centrifugal pump at different flow rates were measured in the laboratory. Depending on the change in pump flow rates, it was determined that the pump power consumption varied between 15-42kW and the efficiency values varied between 32.63-55.57%. Considering the statistical compatibility of the measured pump performance values with the values obtained by CFD, it was determined that the coefficient of determination of the measured and predicted values varied between 0.870 and 0.936, which is quite high. The mean absolute percentage error was determined to be well below the acceptable value of 10%.

Özellikle orta ve yüksek güç aralığındaki tarım traktörlerinin temel amacı çeki geliştirmektir. Bir traktörün değeri, işin yapılması için harcanan maliyete göre yapılan iş miktarıyla ölçülür. İlerleme hızının ve çeki kuvvetinin fonksiyonu çeki gücüdür. Bu çalışmada, çeki performansı üzerine üç farklı radyal lastik ölçüsünün ve aks yükünün etkileri, yapılan deneylerle elde edilen veriler yardımıyla incelenerek değerlendirilmiştir. Denemeler, sert tarla yolu üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Denemelerde tek tekerlek test sistemi kullanılmıştır. Patinaj, çeki gücü, aks gücü, net çeki oranı ve çeki verimliliği değerleri, performans değerleri olarak elde edilmiştir. Çeki kuvvetine bağlı olarak; patinaj değerleri %1.2 ile %19.10, net çeki oranı 0.14 ile 0.8 arasında ve çeki verimliliği ise 0.35 ile 0.84 değerleri arasında değişmiştir. Çeki verimliliği değerlerine yapılan varyans analizi sonuçlarına göre tekerlek lastik ölçüsünün ve aks yükünün çeki verimliliği üzerine etkisinin önemli olduğu bulunmuştur (P

Agricultural tractors are improving their capacity, speed, and performance. However, the characteristic form of the agricultural tractors is not known in terms of aerodynamics. This is required in modeling transportational duties and their impacts on energy and environment, especially considering tractor -trailer couples. In this work, this characteristic form solely investigated apart from the couple to base a foundation. The geometry was adapted from a commercial model. The model was simplified greatly to isolate numerous parameters yielding a generic shape. Only geometrical features as parameters were selected as the nose shape as the leading surface and the windshield angle. Scaled models were tested in a wind tunnel. Drag coefficients independent from Reynolds number, drag forces, pressure distributions on the symmetry planes and pressure coefficients were obtained. An extrapolation was made in order to predict drag force related fuel consumption and CO 2 emission for a full-scale tractor on -road transportation scenario based on experimentally obtained drag coefficient. It is understood that changes in tractor front surface topology and wind shield angle can lead to drag changes up to 3%. A 0.72 value of drag coefficient may be assumed for the generic agricultural tractor form. Based on this value, an on -road agricultural tractor cruising with 70 km h -1 is predicted to have a drag sourced fuel consumption of 3.9 kg h -1 and CO 2 emission of 10.19 kg h -1 . Tractor trailer couples and their platoons are of interest in terms of research and computational simulations that may utilize present results as validator.

In this study, the effects of a pneumatic precision stubble planter with different planter feets on fuel consumption, post-sowing surface profile unevenness and field germination emergence values in second-crop corn production were investigated. Field trials were carried out on the adhesive tape system at Selçuk University Faculty of Agriculture Sarıcalar Research and Production Farm, and laboratory experiments were carried out on the adhesive tape system at Selçuk University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Machinery and Technologies Engineering. Field trials were carried out at a working speed of 5.4 km h-1, and adhesive tape experiments were carried out at a tape speed corresponding to a working speed of 5.4 km h-1. According to laboratory and field conditions; Acceptable seed spacing values of 0.5-1.5Z were found to be over 80%, and 0.5

Tarımsal üretim faaliyetleri ile ortaya çıkan yan ürünler nispeten daha zor ölçülebilir oldukları için oluşturdukları zararlı atıklar yakın zamana kadar göz ardı edilmiştir. Günümüzde artık karbon ayak izi ölçümlemeleri ile tarımsal üretim ile açığa çıkan zararlı atıkların belirlenebilmesi mümkün olabilmektedir. Tarımsal faaliyetler sonucu ortaya çıkan atıkların geri kazandırılması, tarımsal üretimin ve çevrenin sürdürülebilirliği açısından üzerinde önemle durulan bir konu olmuştur. Bu çalışmada Konya ilinde hayvansal üretim faaliyetleri sırasında ortaya çıkan sera gazı (gübre ve enterik fermantasyon kaynaklı) miktarları, bitkisel üretimimde doğrudan (yakıt esaslı) emisyon değerleri, biyogaz enerjisi potansiyeli, biyokütle enerji potansiyelleri hesaplanmıştır. Hayvansal üretim (süt sığırı, koyun) faaliyetleri sırasında ortaya çıkan sera gazı miktarları toplam 1,578,108 ton CO2e.yıl-1 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Bitkisel üretimde (buğday, arpa, ayçiçeği, mısır, şeker pancarı) CO2 emisyonu değerleri geleneksel tekniklerinin uygulanması koşulunda toplam 120,564 ton, koruyucu tarım tekniklerinin uygulanmasında ise toplam 36,175 ton olarak hesaplanmıştır. Biyogaz enerjisi potansiyeli, gübre toplanabilirlik oranları dikkate alınarak hesaplandığında toplam 259,780,000 kWh.(m3)-1.yıl-1 olarak bulunmuştur. Biyokütle enerji potansiyelleri ise toplam 4,508.05 GWh olarak bulunmuştur.

Bu çalışmada bir rüzgâr tüneli kullanılarak ölçeklendirilmiş tarımsal traktör modellerine etki eden hava akışı direnci deneysel olarak tespit edilmiştir. Traktör modelleri aynı şekle sahiptir fakat kullanıcının bulunduğu bölümde üç farklı tasarım denenmiştir. Bunlar kabinle kuşatılmış platform, güneşlikli platform ve devrilme sırasında kullanıcıyı koruyacak koruma çubuklu platformdur. Böylece kullanıcı bölümünün tasarımına bağlı olarak yol içi taşımacılıkta traktörlerin maruz kaldığı hava direnci değişimleri ilk defa deneysel olarak belirlenmiş olmaktadır. Geometrik benzerlik esaslarına göre rüzgâr tünelinde kullanılan traktör modelleri 1:13 oranında hazırlanmıştır. Rüzgâr tüneli testlerinde kinematik ve dinamik benzerlik sağlanamamakta fakat Reynolds sayısı bağımsızlığı elde edilebilmektedir. Rüzgâr tüneli hava akış hızı aralığında farklı hava hızlarında deneyler yapılarak bir Reynolds sayısı aralığı taranmıştır. Bu aralıkta modellere etki eden aerodinamik direnç kuvvetleri ve traktörlerin simetri ekseninde hava akışı kaynaklı basınç dağılımları ölçülmüştür. Elde edilen ölçümlerden boyutsuz aerodinamik direnç katsayısı ve basınç katsayısı değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Hesaplamalara göre kabin kullanımı aerodinamik direnci %3-15 aralığında arttırmaktadır. Düşük hızlarda kabin kullanımı kaynaklı direnç artış yüzdesi fazlayken yüksek hızlarda azalmaktadır. Kabin kullanımı sonucunda akışa dik traktör ön izdüşüm alanı artmaktadır. Fakat aerodinamik dirençteki artış ön iz düşüm alanındaki artışa göre bir mertebe daha düşüktür. Kabin kullanımının iş güvenliği açısından sağladıkları da düşünüldüğünde kabin kullanımı kaynaklı aerodinamik direnç artışının kabul edilebilir bir maliyet olduğu anlaşılmaktadır. Çalışma sonuçlarının tarımsal traktörlerle yol içi taşımacılıkta enerji tüketiminin ayrıştırılmasına katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.

Huge numbers of agricultural tractor trailer combinations are used for transportation. Many of the combinations rely on over-run braking on trailers. On-road transportation by the combination is being increased by increasing speed and mass capacities due to market pressure. A significant braking safety issue during on-road transportation is dealt with in this work. Proportional integral derivative (PID) control is proposed as a transitional solution towards domination of new tech equipment. Conventional and proposed PID brake controls were compared experimentally by a loaded real world scale agricultural tractor trailer combination. A double axle (front and rear) trailer with 8 tons load was used for dry asphalt road conditions and 0.35 seconds lag time detected between manual and PID controlled braking. Loss of driving stability was reduced by 50% and deceleration increased 21% with PID. Jack-knifing phenomenon is also evaluated. Proposed solution covers an important safety issue and improves braking performance.

In the trials of the present work, a double-axle trailer with a carrying capacity of 6 tons and a hydraulically effective mechanical brake were used as a tractor towed car. There is a hydraulic brake system on each axle of the agricultural trailer. In order to separate the brake system on the axles from each other, a hydraulic mechanically controlled 2/2 directional control valve was mounted on both hydraulic brake system inlets. The study was carried out at constant speed (25 km h-1), on stabilized road conditions, with 4 different braking modes and 4 different trailer loads. On stabilized ground, the braking acceleration (deceleration) of the tractor (without trailer) is 5.51 m s-2. The braking acceleration of the combination is 2.15 m s-2 under the condition that the trailer's carrying capacity was 30% more loaded and without brakes, and the braking acceleration of the combination was 3.26 m s-2 when braking on both axles (4 wheels). The deceleration of the combination was above 3.5 m s-2 under the condition of braking on both axles at the rated load of the agricultural trailer, while it was below the standard value in other braking approaches.

Soil degradation is an increasing problem in Turkey, especially in the Middle Anatolia region where the annual precipitation is approximately 300 mm, resulting from conventional farming methods. To address this issue, the artificial neural networks (ANNs) are used, as they are flexible mathematical tools that capture data. This study aims to investigate the relationships between dust emission (PM10) and the mean weight diameter, shear stress, and stubble amount of the soil, which were measured in eight different tillage practices (conventional tillage, six types of reduced tillage, and direct seeding). The results show that the mean weight diameter, shear stress, and stubble amount of the soil varied between 4.89 and 14.17 mm, 0.40–1.23 N·cm−2, and 30.5–158 g·m−2, respectively, depending on the type of tillage works. Additionally, dust emissions generated during different tillage applications ranged from 27.73 to 153.45 mg·m−3. The horizontal shaft rototiller produced the highest dust emission, approximately 150% higher than those of disc harrow and winged chisel plows. The impact of tillage practices on dust emission was statistically significant (p < 0.01). A sophisticated 3-(7-7)-1 ANNs model using a backpropagation learning algorithm was developed to predict the concentration of dust, which outperformed the traditional statistical models. The model was based on the values of mean weight diameter, shear stress, and stubble amount of the soil after tillage. The best result was obtained from the ANN model among the polynomial and ANN models. In the ANN model, the coefficient of determination, root mean square error, and mean error were found to be 0.98, 6.70, and 6.11%, respectively. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of ANNs in predicting the levels of dust concentration based on soil tillage data, and it highlighted the importance of adopting alternative tillage practices to reduce soil degradation and dust emissions.

In the trials of the present work, a double-axle trailer with a carrying capacity of 6 tons and a hydraulically effective mechanical brake were used as a tractor towed car. There is a hydraulic brake system on each axle of the agricultural trailer. In order to separate the brake system on the axles from each other, a hydraulic mechanically controlled 2/2 directional control valve was mounted on both hydraulic brake system inlets. The study was carried out at constant speed (25 km h-1), on stabilized road conditions, with 4 different braking modes and 4 different trailer loads. On stabilized ground, the braking acceleration (deceleration) of the tractor (without trailer) is 5.51 m s-2. The braking acceleration of the combination is 2.15 m s-2 under the condition that the trailer's carrying capacity was 30% more loaded and without brakes, and the braking acceleration of the combination was 3.26 m s-2 when braking on both axles (4 wheels). The deceleration of the combination was above 3.5 m s-2 under the condition of braking on both axles at the rated load of the agricultural trailer, while it was below the standard value in other braking approaches.

New generation agricultural tractors contribute to transportation by increased travel speeds. There is not any available aerodynamic data on the authentic agricultural tractor form. On-road transportation by tractors is between 8 and 30% of their operational time. In this work, two agricultural tractors are modelled via computational fluid dynamics for nine different speeds to determine aerodynamic resistances. Constant speed travel scenarios are analyzed. Corresponding speeds are 5 and 10 to 80 km/h with 10 km/h increments. Reynolds number changes between 1.6 × 105 and 2.98 × 106. The characteristic lengths are taken as the square root of the streamwise projected area of the tractor geometries. Aerodynamic forces exerted on the tractors change between 3 and 746 N. The calculated drag coefficients are found as independent from Reynolds number and are 0.6 and 0.78 for the two different types of driver compartments. The approximated aerodynamic related fuel consumptions for 1-h changes between 0.002 and 8.28 lt/s which correspond to 0.001 to 5.76 kg/s carbon emission. A potential improvement in decreasing aerodynamic resistance about 20% is discussed by spatial data. Since the conducted work is being regarded as the first instance in the literature, it is estimated that several consecutive reports will be triggered.

One of our most valuable natural resources is soil. Sustainable agricultural production is achieved with proper soil management. Tillage is considered to be one of the largest operations, as the most energy need in agricultural production occurs in tillage. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of chisel tine on draft force and disturbed soil area and estimate them using artificial neural networks (ANN) and multiple linear regression equations (MLR). The experiments were carried out in a closed soil bin filled with clay loam soil at an average moisture content of 13.2% (on dry basis). The draft force and disturbed soil area were evaluated as affected by the share width at two levels (60 and 120 mm), forward speed at four levels (0,7, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 ms-1) and working depth at four levels (160, 200, 240 and 280 mm) at three replications. The draft force varied from 0,5 to 1.42 kN, depending on the controlled variables, while the disturbed soil area varied from 260 to 865 cm2. Test results show that share width, forward speed and working depth were significant on the draft force and disturbed soil area. Input variables of the ANN models were considered share width, forward speed and working depth. In prediction of required draft force and disturbed soil area respectively, on account of statistical performance criteria, the best ANN model with coefficient of determination of 0.999 and 0.998, root mean square error of 0.010 and 0.016 and mean relative percentage error of 0.960 and 1.673 was better performed than the MLR model.

In this study, three different strip tillage applications were used as an alternative to Conventional Tillage (CT). While Original Strip-Till (OST) machine made by the Maschio Gaspardo was used in one of the applications of the strip tillage, the other two Machines [Horizontal (MHST) and Vertical (MVST) shaft rotary Tillers] were modified and used in strip tillage. Depending on the strip tillage application used, about 35–40% of soil surface was tilled. For the three applications, the penetration resistance and shear stress of soil ranged from 0.45 to 1.91 MPa and from 0.36 to 0.48 N cm, respectively. The energy ratio, energy productivity, specific energy, net energy gain, and energy intensiveness were calculated. There were significant differences (P< 0.01) among the treatments in terms of various energy indices and corn silage yields. In the experiments with no hoeing, the silage yield ranged from 3,714 to 3,953 kg ha; whereas, with hoeing, the yield increased, ranging from 3,964 to 4,952 kg ha. The average net energy gain of corn silage production with and without hoeing applied was 156,155.68 and 131,037.75 MJ ha, respectively. Energy use efficiency was the highest in the MHST method with hoeing. As a result, in terms of energy use efficiency, MHST (Modified Horizontal shaft Strip-Till system) method with hoeing can be suggested for use in the Middle Anatolian