Systems Approach to Efficient Field Machinery Utilization for Lowland Rice Production
Within the agricultural sector, there are wide variations in the level and pattern of energy use among various crops. To assess this energy demand, quantitative data on operating conditions is required for each unit operation. With the current increase in world population, energy consumption need...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2005
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/6045/1/FK_2005_42.pdf |
| Summary: | Within the agricultural sector, there are wide variations in the level and pattern of
energy use among various crops. To assess this energy demand, quantitative data on
operating conditions is required for each unit operation. With the current increase in
world population, energy consumption needs effective planning. One way to
optimize energy consumption in agriculture is to determine the efficiency of methods
and techniques used.
This study was carried out with the ultimate aim of developing a model that could be
used for estimating the energy consumption in a lowland rice production system and
to predict the potential yield of rice from operational energy inputs and from quality
indices of tillage and planting operations. Tillage systems obtained with factorial
combinations of tractor forward speeds obtained from four transmission gear
selections and three rotary tilling speeds were compared with respect to effective
field capacity and energy requirements for implements used in the typical sequence
for each system. The effects of the rotary tillage systems on irrigated soil properties
in terms of changes in bulk density, cone index, plasticity index, aggregate
uniformity coefficient and organic matter content were also investigated. Energy analysis for the entire production process included the operational energy
consumption by field machinery and human labour, and the indirect energy
accounted for by fertilizer, pesticides and seeds used, Functional relationships that
allow the quantification of the different processes in the developed simulation model
were formulated essentially through the use of secondary data and through curves
fitting to some real data. Mathematical equations from agricultural machinery
management and empirical equations were employed.
Results from the tillage experiment indicate that differences in field capacity, and
fuel and total energy requirements for each tillage system can be attributed primarily
to many factors such as soil moisture, soil density, rotary tilling speed, and operation
speed and depth. Average total energy inputs in the lowland rice production system
(excluding irrigation energy) summed up to about 12225.97 ha-I. As main
consumers of energy, fertilizer (7721 .O3 ha-'; 63.2%) and fuel use (2717.82 MJha-
'; 22.2%) were identified. Human labour, pesticide, seeds and indirect energy for
machinery use had marginal importance, contributing only 0.2%, 0.6%, 6.8% and
6.9%, respectively to the total energy consumption. Focusing on the operational
energy consumption for the lowland rice production, the main energy use was in
field cultivation activities (23 10.24 MJIha; 64.2%, planting included) and harvesting
( I 171.44 ~ J h a - '3: 2.6%). while spreading of fertilizer and pesticide had only little
importance within total mechanization. Indirect energy use for mechanization took
about 848.95 ha-' or 23.6% from total energy use for mechanization of 3595.87
h ha-'. Compared to total energy demand of 12225.97 h ha-I. indirect energy use
for mechanization was even less important (6.9%). Average grain yield was 6470.8
kg ha-', representing energy output of 108321.75 mJha - 'that is, 96095.78 MJ net energy gain or 8.86 MJ output per MJ input. Energy input per kilogram grain yield
was 1.89 M J ~ ~ -T' .h e simulation results obtained from the developed computer
program regarding direct and indirect operational energy consumption in the lowland
rice production were consistent with those obtained from the field study.
The results of the study could serve as a guide to lowland rice farmers in other
geographical locations in achieving their production goals. Improvements could be
made through the application of the simulation model by figuring out the energy
input requirements for all possible combinations of field operations for lowland rice
production. It is suggested, as a consequence of this research, that paddy farmers in
the Tanjong Karang Rice Irrigation Scheme of Malaysia and other schemes with
similar operational conditions adopt the use of Gear 1 High and rotary tilling speed
of 175 rpm for tillage operations. The application of this practice should reduce the
excessive demand on fossil fuel energy which currently is very expensive and whose
continuous availability is unpredictable. This will assist in the on-going campaign to
minimize the flux of hard currency out of most developing and transition countries in
the form of energy bills. The results and recommendations here are based on the
available data on the current practices involved in the lowland rice production system
of Malaysia and hence are useful for the current lowland rice crop planning and farm
management practices. |
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