• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.404-410
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• 2009

This study was carried out to develop a self-propelled type explosive subsoiler for improving the root zone soil conditions in orchard and other forest fields. Prototype was designed to be able to inject air and other soil improving material such as lime into soil at the same time, and thus improve the air permeability and drainage of orchard soils to promote the root growth of tree for high quality fruit production. Soil penetration device of explosive subsoiler is composed of air hammer, penetration rob and air injection nozzle. To support the soil penetration device of explosive subsoiler to penetrate vertically, modified Scott-Russel mechanism was used. Timing control device for simultaneous injection of soil improving material with air was attached to the out side wall of air cylinder and as the cylinder move, the soil improving material was injected into soil at the same time. Turning radius of prototype was 2.2-2.3 m with good mobility in sloped land. It took approximately 1 minute for lime injection system to reach the optimum pressure of 9.9 kg/$cm^2$, average 10-20 seconds were required to rupture soil with the depth of 50 cm and 2-3 seconds were required for explosion, so all in all about 1 minute and 20 seconds were required for one cycle of explosion. Maximum soil rupture depth and diameter were 50 cm and 3-4 m respectively depending on the soil type and soil moisture content. For final design of explosive subsoiler inclination angle of lime hopper was increased from 60 degree to 70 degree and the shape of hopper was changed from rectangular cone to circular cone to solve the clogging problem of lime at out let. Agitating system operated by compressed air was attached to the metering device of the prototype, thus more than 90 cc of lime was discharged per cycle from metering device without clogging problems.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.397-403
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the present status of subsoil compaction, and subsoil compaction management in orchard as a basic study for developing a self-propelled explosive subsoiler. Subsoil compaction was evaluated using the soil penetration resistance. Soil cone index was measured using the DIK 5520 type cone penetrometer in several fruit farms such as apple, pear, peach and grapes during growing seasons of these fruit in Jecheon, Gamgok, Choongju, Cheonan and Hwasung areas. Most of the subsoil managing machinery were either explosive type or digging type attached to the tractor or power tiller and turning radius of this machine was more than 3-5 m. Many of the farmers wanted to use the subsoiler which can put lime into soil and rupture soil at the same time. For most of the orchard fields, soil penetration resistance in vehicle traffic area was increased quickly and reached about 1.0 MPa in 5 cm soil depth. As the soil depth increased to 15-20 cm, cone penetration resistance reached about 2.0-2.5 MPa which restricted root growth seriously. Thus it was concluded that one of the main reason for increasing the soil compaction in orchard fields is agricultural vehicle traffic. In the vicinity of fruit trees, compaction is not so serious compared to that of the vehicle traffic area, but as the soil depth increased to 20-25 cm, in most of the orchard fields soil penetration resistance reached about 2.0-2.5 MPa which is the root growth-limiting value. Considering the rooting depth of fruit trees which ranged 30-60 cm for apple, pear and peach, and 20-30 cm for grape, it is necessary to loosen the subosoil and improve the subsoil conditions using subsoiler.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.1043-1052
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• 1993

Field experiments were conducted to determine the optimum combination of performance parameters of a single-shank, tractor-mounted oscillating subsoiler. Tests were conducted at frequencies of oscillation of 3.7 , 5.67, 7.58, 9.48 and 11.456Hz ; amplitudes of 18, 21, 23.5, 34 and 36.5 mm ; and forward speeds of 1.84, 2.19 and 3.42 kmph at moisture content close to the plastic limit of the soil. It was observed that there was a reduction in average draft but an a increase in average total power requirement for oscillating than non-oscillating subsoiling. The draft and power ratios were significantly affected by the forward speed, frequency and amplitude. Their combined interaction expressed in terms of the velocity ratio parameter( the ratio of peak tool velocity and forward speed) however has the strongest influence. At the same velocity ratio, the draft reduction and power increase were less at higher amplitude of oscillation . As the oscillating frequency is increased toward the soil resonance the draft requirement becomes less. For the field conditions tested. the optimum operation was obtained at an amplitude of 36.5mm, frequency of 9.48Hz and speed of 2.19 kmph with a draft ratio of 0.33 and a power ratio of only 1.24.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.52-55
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• 2006