Review of Fuel Consumption, Draft Force and Ground Speed Measurements of the Agricultural Tractor during Tillage Operations

Estimating the amount of fuel consumption of an agricultural tractor during various tillage operations will help the selection of the best conservation practices for farm equipment. Draft requirements often dictate the size of the power unit required on a particular farm and, therefore, will also be required for energy management decisions. They will also be considered a prominent factor during the selection of a tractor’s machinery and power source. In addition, ground speed measurement is not only necessary for many agricultural machinery applications but also to monitor and map crop yield and properly change the application rate of agricultural inputs. There are several methods and techniques to measure a tractor’s fuel consumption, draft force, and ground speed. All these methods have many advantages and disadvantages depending on the tractor, the implement used, and the operating conditions. This article reviews some of these methods, providing scope for further research to focus on the potential development and improvement of the measurement methods, and this could positively affect the accuracy of the data and final results of the research.