Relationship Between Farm Land Structure and Machine Efficiency

Effective machine capacity is affected by the physical and geometrical conditions of the fields. In the small and scattered farmland structure field efficiency is greatly influenced by plot geometry. In this paper, a method for estimating field efficiency and effective machine capacity was developed . The developed method was applied to Korean paddy cultivation. Various time elements related to farm operations for small and scattered plots are discussed in this paper . Available working time is divided into two parts, viz. the preparation time for machine operation and actual working time. Two kinds of machine efficiencies, namely , Machine Efficiency 1, applicable on a single large plot or set of well consolidated plots ; and Machine Efficiency 2, applicable on small and scattered multiple plots, are considered. Based assumptions made and steps followed to construct the model are discussed. Effective capacity of each machine based on different plot geometries are calculated y the model. Machine efficiency on a single plot increases with increase in the dimension of longer side of the plot . Low speed, low theoretical capacity machines have higher machine efficiency which is only slightly influenced by plot geometry. As plot geometry is improved , the machine efficiency of high speed, high capacity machines increases rapidly. The effects of short side length and plot size on machine efficiency on a single plot depend on the type of farm operation. For a particular plot shape, as plot size increases, machine efficiency on multiple plots increases rapidly. The effects of consolidation on machine efficiency is highly significant if the plot size is small and/or machine size is large.