Determination of the vertical installation angles of the leveling soil pushers

Abstract

This study experimentally investigated the effect of the installation angle of soil-pushing elements, measured relative to the direction of travel, on the operational performance of a disc ripper-leveler designed for inter-row tillage in vineyards. During the experiments, the angle was adjusted between 25° and 40° in 5° increments. The performance of the implement was assessed using several key parameters, including the root mean square deviation of field-surface irregularities, the degree of soil fragmentation, and the specific draft resistance. The experimental findings demonstrated that the position of the soil pushers has a considerable influence on both the quality and energy efficiency of the tillage process. The most favorable results were obtained when the soil-pushing elements were positioned at an angle of approximately 30–35° to the direction of movement. Within this range, the leveling quality of the field surface improved, while the draft resistance of the implement decreased, resulting in more efficient operation. The experiments also indicated that the leveling soil spreader should be positioned at an angle of not less than 40° relative to the vertical. Such a configuration contributes to more effective redistribution of the soil and better correction of surface irregularities during operation. The results provide a practical basis for optimizing the structural and operational parameters of disc ripper-levelers used in vineyard inter-row cultivation. Appropriate selection of the installation angles can contribute to improved surface leveling, reduced energy requirements, and increased overall efficiency of the tillage process.