Abstract

The study was implemented in two phases. In the first phase, the required dimensions and measurements for the angular skimmer were established, suitable metal type was determined, and the angular skimmer was manufactured according to the dimensions and measurements. In the second phase, a field evaluation was conducted to assess the operational efficiency of the mouldboard plow with the locally manufactured angular skimmer and compare it with the mouldboard plow without skimmer (as a control). Therefore, the studied factors through a practical experiment were using mouldboard plow at two levels (with and without attached the locally manufactured angular skimmer), at two levels of forward speeds 3.57, 6.30 km h-1. The impacts of these factors on soil volume disturbed, soil slice angle, lateral movement distance of furrow bottom, and tillage appearance (number of soil blocks with a diameter exceeding 10 cm per m2).

The forward speed 3.57 km h-1 significantly contributed to higher values for both tillage appearance and angle of soil slice deflection, while the forward speed 6.30 km h-1 significantly contributed to higher values for soil volume overturned and furrow bottom exposed area. Mouldboard plow with angular skimmer exhibited significantly higher values for both angle of soil slice angle and distributed soil volume, while the implement without the angular skimmer showed significantly higher values for both tillage appearance and lateral movement distance of furrow bottom. The interaction between the forward speed and the mouldboard with and without angular skimmer, the plow with the angular skimmer significantly contributed to higher values for both angle of soil slice and distributed soil volume at a forward speed of 6.30 km h-1, while the plow without the angular skimmer significantly contributed to higher values for tillage appearance and lateral movement distance of furrow bottom at a forward speed of 3.57 km h-1.