Field Assessment of Triaxial Forces on Single and Double Bentleg Plows at Various Forward Speeds

In this research, horizontal, vertical and side forces on a single bentleg plow (SBLP) and a double bentleg plow (DBLP) at four forward speeds of 1.8, 2.3, 2.9 and 3.5 kmh-1 and at the constant depth of 40 cm was evaluated. The experiment was arranged in the randomized complete block design with four replications. In each experiment, three perpendicular soil forces were measured and recorded. Results showed that increasing forward speed from 1.8 to 3.5 kmh-1 resulted in increasing horizontal, vertical and side forces by 14, 3.5 and 1% for SBLP and 13, 1.2 and 11.5% for DBLP, respectively. Other results indicated that horizontal force for DBLP was more than twice of that for SBLP. The vertical force was lower for SBLP but it was not more than half that of DBLP and the side force for DBLP was very less than that for SBLP. Generally, using the DBLP increases tine penetration and decreases side force which leads to balanced operation of the subsoiler and tractor and therefore recommended.