Application of enamel-coating for draught reduction of a mouldboard plough

Abstract

The effect of enamel-coating on the draught performance of an animal-drawn mouldboard plough was studied. A single furrow swing mouldboard plough-Maun Series, and the same type enamel-coated plough both ox-drawn, are compared under similar working conditions such as soil moisture content, depth and width of cut and approximately constant speed of ploughing. It was found that the enamel-coating reduces both the plough draught and the specific draught. The percentage reduction of the plough draught for enamel-coated plough compared to uncoated plough varied from 12.7% at 25% soil moisture content to 18.1% at 32% soil moisture content (dry basis). It was also found that the percentage reduction of the specific draught achieved with the enamel-coated plough in comparison with the uncoated plough varied from 20.3% at 32% soil moisture content to 25.7% at 25% soil moisture content (dry basis).