Energy Savings in Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

ISBN-13: 9789401071086 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 144 str.

G. Pellizzi; A. G. Cavalchini; M. Lazzari

Opis

The aim of this work is to check the possibility of substantial energy savings in the European agricultural mechanisation. In this analytical survey the possibilities of energy saving in stationary plants nor the indirect savings in chemical inputs are considered. The analysis has been essentially bibliographical, without any direct experimental analysis. After some general considerations on the European farming structure and the present energy requirements of the sector, ,the European agricultural machines and tractors industry is outlined. At the start of this analytical survey, the working schemes and the energy requirements are examined for the different crops. The evolution of tractor manufacturing and the derived machines is also surveyed, gathering the specific implements into the main groups: tractors (and derived machines); soil tillage machines, intercultivation machines and harvesting machines. The evolution and the energy saving potential in tractors and farming machines management is examined and the actions for development are outlined.

Spis treści

and summary.- 1 General considerations.- 1.1 Farming structure and mechanisation.- 1.2 Energy consumption.- 1.3 The agricultural machines and tractor industry.- 1.4 Potential energy saving in field mechanisation.- 2 Operational schemes and energy requirements for the different crops.- 2.1 Cereals.- 2.1.1 Faming techniques.- 2.1.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.2 Forages.- 2.2.1 Farming techniques.- 2.2.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.3 Sugar beet.- 2.3.1 Farming techniques.- 2.3.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.4 Potatoes.- 2.4.1 Farming techniques.- 2.4.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.5 Oil seed crops.- 2.5.1 Farming techniques.- 2.5.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.6 Vineyards.- 2.6.1 Farming techniques.- 2.6.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.7 Fruit and citrus tree crops.- 2.7.1 Farming techniques.- 2.7.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.8 Olive trees.- 2.8.1 Farming techniques.- 2.8.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.9 Energy consumptions for handling in farming activities.- 2.10 Conclusions.- 3 Tractors and agricultural machines manufacturing: Evolution and energy saving perspectives.- 3.1 Tractors and other agricultural vehicles.- 3.1.1 Engines.- 3.1.2 Tyres.- 3.1.3 Electronic control devices.- 3.1.4 Tractor architecture.- 3.1.5 Fuel oil replacement.- 3.1.6 Operative conclusions.- 3.2 Primary and secondary tillage machines.- 3.2.1 Ploughs.- 3.2.2 Rotary hoes and spading machines.- 3.2.3 Secondary tillage.- 3.2.4 Operative conclusions.- 3.3 Auxiliary machines for crop cultivation.- 3.3.1 Machines for fertilizers distribution.- 3.3.2 Pesticides and herbicides spreaders — Alternative solutions.- 3.3.3 Transplantation and seeding machines.- 3.3.4 Operative conclusions.- 3.4 Harvesting machines.- 3.4.1 Grains harvesters (cereal kernels, oil-seeds, leguminosae, etc).- 3.4.2 Forage harvesters.- 3.4.3 Sugar-beets harvesters.- 3.4.4 Potatoes harvesters.- 3.4.5 Fruit harvesters.- 3.4.6 Grapes harvesters.- 3.4.7 Olive harvesters.- 3.4.8 Operative conclusions.- 4 Tractors and agricultural machines management — Evolution and energy saving perspectives.- 4.1 Present operating conditions of the machines.- 4.2 Operative conclusions.- 5 Actions to develop and their impact.- 5.1 Summary of the situation and obtainable benefits.- 5.2 Actions to be continued.- 5.2.1 Interventions in the primary, sector.- 5.2.2 Interventions in the industrial sector.- 5.2.3 Operative conclusions.- 6 Cost/benefit analysis and conclusions.- 6.1 Preliminary cost/benefit analysis.- 6.2 Conclusions.- 7 Main references.- 7.1 National energy balance and energy saving in general.- 7.2 Crops and agricultural practices energy requirements.- 7.3 Energy saving through a more appropriate use of agricultural machines.- 7.4 Energy saving due to product and process innovations.- 8 Research institutes involved in energy saving in mechanisation.- 9 National manufacturers associations.