Optimization Parameters of Innovative Harrow for Sorgo Production in Burundi

Abstract

Sorghum is one of the staple foods in the world's poorest regions, where food security is of the greatest concern. Sorghum is capable of growing even in the poorest soils, but it is very demanding on surface treatment. For drought-tolerant sorghum, the soil must be loose and breathable. The aim of the study was to select the means of mechanized tillage for growing sorghum and optimize its parameters. To obtain a crop, a new design of a universal disc-chisel harrow was developed. The harrow consists of two modules: disc and chisel. It allows you to perform various surface treatment operations: cultivating at a depth of 100 mm, loosening at a level of 200 mm and plowing at a level of 300 mm. The novelty of the structure is protected by a patent of the Russian Federation. A prototype was assembled and full-scale experiments were carried out. As a result of significant optimal values of the speed of the unit and an increase in the speed of the disks, the best quality of surface treatment is achieved.