13 weeks required to finish the ploughing activity.
Calculate the field area in square meters.
53 hectares * 10,000 square meters/hectare = 530,000 square meters
Calculate the working width of the plough.
2 furrows * 430 mm/furrow = 860 mm
Convert the working width to meters.
860 mm / 1000 mm/m = 0.86 m
Calculate the area covered by one pass of the plough.
0.86 m * 100 m = 86 square meters/pass
Calculate the number of passes required to plough the field.
530,000 square meters / 86 square meters/pass = 6,162 passes
Calculate the daily area ploughed.
0.86 m * 100 m * 8 hours/day = 6,880 square meters/day
Calculate the number of days to plough the field.
530,000 square meters / 6,880 square meters/day = 76.8 days
Adjust for working days per week.
76.8 days / 6 days/week = 12.8 weeks
Round to the nearest whole week.
12.8 weeks ≈ 13 weeks
Matching assessment:
The tractor and plough are not optimally matched because:
The tractor's power (44 kW) is significantly higher than the power required for a 2-furrow plough in loam soil. This suggests the tractor is underutilized.
The time required to plough the field (13 weeks) is longer than it would be with a better-matched plough.
Recommendations:
Consider using a 3-furrow plough to utilize the tractor's power more efficiently and reduce ploughing time.
Alternatively, consider using a smaller tractor with a 2-furrow plough to improve fuel efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Question:-
A farmer wishes to plough a 53-ha field which has a loam soil using a 44 kW tractor and a 2
furrow plough. Each plough body makes a furrow 430 mm wide. The tractor operator works
an 8-hour day, and 6 days per week. Show if the tractor and plough are matched, and
calculate the calendar days required to finish the ploughing activity.