An experimental investigation of cultivator shank shape on draft requirement

This study has been carried out to investigate the effect of shank geometry on draft requirement under simulated conditions. Experiments were conducted in a soilbin sizing L:W: H as 16.0 : 2.5 : 1.0 m. The shank geometry was varied with respect to bend angle and bend length. Bend angles of 00, 150, 300 and 450 and bend lengths of 150, 200 and 250 mm were used in experimentation in the soilbin under uniform conditions, at 50, 100, 150 and 200 mm depth levels. Using the experimental results, the bend angle and bend length were parametrically optimized for the shank of duckfoot cultivator. A significant increase in draft was observed for all the shanks with increase in tillage depth. Shank with 300 bend angle and 200 mm bend length gave minimum force at all depth of operation, as compared to other shanks.