UNIT 19: WORKSHOP SKILLS

FARM IMPLEMENTS
TILLAGE IMPLEMENTS
The main aims of tillage are:
 production of a suitable tilth
 control of soil moisture
 destruction of weeds
 incorporation of crop residues, fertilizers and manure

The main implements used for tillage are:

Mouldboard plough: An example of this is the common ox-drawn plough. This implement gives the
best residue incorporation as it inverts the soil.

Disc plough: This is used where soil in extremely hard, rocky or there is a root network beneath the
soil surface. The disc plough lifts and inverts the soil but does not completely cover the soil like the
mouldboard plough.

Disc harrow: these have a number of discs mounted on one or two axles. Penetration of the disc
harrow into the soil is achieved by virtues of the weight of the implement. This implement uses
less fuel and is faster in land preparation. It is now the most commonly used implement in
Zimbabwe.
Rippers: Strongly constructed and used to break up deep (up to 50 cm) compacted layers of soil to
improve their internal drainage. They do not invert soil, thereby minimizing erosion. Common
practices now in Zimbabwe are ripping and discing.

Chisel ploughs: They have the same effect as rippers but this ripping depth ranges from 30 – 50 cm.
Field cultivators: These are constructed lighter than rippers. They are mainly used for weed control
in already established crops.
SEEDBED PREPARATION IMPLEMENTS
The main aim of seedbed preparation is to create a soil condition that promotes germination and
growth.
 Rollers: produces fine, level, firm seedbed
 Disc harrows: Despite being used for primary tillage, they are also used as seedbed preparation
machines.
 Harrows
 Cultivators
Seeding Machines
Generally there are three types of rate application machines:
 Ground wheel driven: such as seed drills, speed variations do not affect the application rate
 Power take-off driven
 Constant delivery

In general the application rate of ground wheel driven machines is varied by hanging the gear
ratio between the metering mechanism and the ground wheel.
The PTO (Power Take-Off) driven application rate is affected by change in speed of the tractor
when the gear in changed and also when changing the driving gear of the seeder. The constant
delivery applicator is the most sensitive to speed variations.
Drills
They open furrows, meter seed into furrows and firm soil around the seed in the furrow in one
operation.
 Plain drills: Plant seed only
 Combination drills: Plant seed and apply fertilizer
 Field distributors: e.g. the vicon

Row Planters
Deposit seed in rows spaced to permit interrow cultivation. Consists of a tool bar upon which
planting units can be moved to give the desired row spacing. It consists of single seed metering
devices. Both mechanical and air systems are used to meter seed. Most planters use air selection
systems which use the flow of air through a carefully sized hole in a moving seed plate to trap and
hold a single seed using vacuum until it is released to the seed tube when the vacuum is cut off.
PLANTER ADJUSTMENTS
 row spacing
 rate setting
 depth of seed placement
 amount of soil coverage
 amount of soil compaction
The operator‘s manual describes how the adjustments are made for different machines.
CALIBRATION OF SEED DRILLS
Ground wheel driven drills are easy to calibrate. Jack up the drive wheel and turn the drive wheel
a given number of revolutions collecting the seed being discharged and weighing the seed.
Measuring the radius of the wheel enables determination of the circumference of the wheel.
Circumference and the number 132
of revolutions gives the length of which when multiplied by the drill swath gives the area.
Converting the data obtained into mass per given area enables comparison with the recommended
rates.
Example:
A drill with an effective width of 3m is to seed 100kg of wheat/ha. Calculate the seed quantity in kg to be
obtained from turning the drive wheel with a radius of 0.35 m.
Solution:
Circumference of the wheel = πd = 22/7*0.7 = 2.2 m
Area to be covered by 50 revolutions = 50*3*2.2 = 330 m2
Expected seed for the test area = 330m2/10000m2*100 kg = 3.3 kg
*Progressive adjustments are then supposed to be done to the metering device for seed until the
required 3.3 kg/50 revolutions are obtained.
Row Planter Calibration
Select the correct seed plate. Manufacturers recommend the correct plate for a particular seed.
Planter wheels give the drive to the seed plate through a system of sprockets with different drive
ratios. Varying sprocket ratios vary the speed of turning of the seed plate in relation to the drive
wheels. Manufacturers normally provide calibration charts which match the various seed plates to
different sprocket ratios to give various seed spacings.
Question:
A planter plate turns half a revolution for each revolution of the ground wheel. The ground wheel has an
effective circumference of 2m and the plate has 16 cells. What is the spacing in the row?
The characteristics of most seeds are such that one must overseed to get expected emergence.
Germination percentage for most seed varies between 80% and 95%.
Example:
Question:
If the desired plant population for maize is 50 000 plants/ha, and the maize seed has 90% germination
percentage, using an interrow spacing of 0.9 m determine the inrow spacing that should be used.
Solution:
50 000 plants/ha = 90%
100/90*50 000 = 55 556 plants/ha
Interow spacing = 0.9m
Thus inrow spacing = 10 000/50 000*0.9 = 0.199 = 20 cm 133
CHEMICAL APPLICATION
 Knapsack Sprayer: usually hand operated
 Field sprayers/Boom Sprayer/Fully Mounted or Trailed: These have the following components:
o Tank
o Pump (pressure pump)
o Pressure regulator
o Nozzles

Calibration
Factors affecting the eventual spray concentration per unit area:
 pressure
 speed of forward travel
 water spray ratio in the tank
 nozzle spacing

With a given set of nozzles and a fixed pressure the output of spray per minute remains constant,
and the amount applied per unit area is inversely proportional to the forward speed.
Method
 Decide on engine speed of tractor, gear, nozzle to use and pressure
 Measure 100 m in the field and measure the time taken to travel the 100m with conditions
selected in (1) above.
 With machine stationery sample out nozzles and measure their discharge for the exact time
taken to cover the measured 100m.
 Find the average discharge per nozzle and multiply by the total number of nozzles to find
total discharge per 100m.
 Multiply number of nozzles with their spacing to find width of the spray
 Multiply width by 100m to find the area covered in a 100 m run.
 Invert the discharge per 100m to discharge per ha
 Divide tank capacity by discharge/ha to obtain ha covered by a full boom tank.

Checking should continue in the field and adjustments made.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTORS
Implements used for this are the:
 Vicon spreader
 Oscillating sprout delivery

Discharge is affected by speed of tractor, discharge, swath, density of the fertilizer. Determining
the speed of the tractor, discharge per minute and swath will assist in calibration of vicon
spreader. Calibration is similar to boon sprayer calibration. 134
Lime spreaders
They have drive wheels and metering devices and are calibrated in the same way seed drills are
calibrated.
Combine harvesters
These are used for cutting, threshing and winnowing
Other implements include:
 Forage harvesters e.g. mowers
 Hay rakes
 Shredders – chopping crop residues for easy land preparation
 Hay balers
 Flail forage harvester/silage cutter

TRACTOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING

Tractor Maintenance
People have been killed and/or seriously injured doing maintenance and repairs to farm tractors.
Major hazards can occur when tractors are jacked and wheels are removed without safe working
procedures. These risks are magnified on soil. Regular workshop maintenance of farm tractors and
trailed implements can prevent hazardous incidents in the field.
Spot the hazard
When planning tractor maintenance, check that the right equipment is available for safe jacking,
removal of wheels and other tasks. People performing the maintenance should be experienced and
safe procedures used. Heavy lifting and carrying can cause strain injuries. Children should be kept
away from tractor workshops. Field repairs present specific injury risks.
Assess the risk
When there is a greater risk of injury or dangerous incident occurring there is a more urgent need
for changes to minimize or eliminate the risk.

Make the changes

Ways to improve tractor maintenance safety include:
 Routinely adjusting brakes, clutches and drives, according to the manual.
 Ensuring steering, exhaust system and brakes are in top condition.
 Stopping the motor before refueling, servicing or greasing and, if possible, waiting until the
engine is cold before refueling.
 Never removing or replacing belts while pulleys are under power.
 Keeping steps and working platforms free of grease, oil, mud and manure to avoid slips
and falls.
 If the engine overheats, allowing adequate time for it to cool off before removing the
radiator cap. The sudden release of pressure in the cooling system can result in hot coolant
being sprayed, typically resulting in first or second-degree burns.

When jacking a tractor

 Jack on a flat, hard surface, ideally a concrete floor.
 Avoid working alone. Ask somebody with training and experience to assist you.
  Refer to the manufacturer's manual on safe jacking procedures, or seek the advice of a
competent person.
 Where jacking points are not identifiable, jack from the lowest possible point on the frame
or axle housing.
 Use jacks that comply with applicable standards.
 If using jack stands, only use stands that comply with applicable standards, and are
designed and rated for the load to be suspended.

Blocks and chocks

 Ensure wooden blocks for jacking are made of hardwood (oak, elm or ash), with a surface
area that will support the tractor's weight on soft soils.
 Chock all wheels that will remain on the ground using big wooden chocks at the front and
rear of each wheel. Do not use makeshift chock materials such as rocks, bricks, etc.
Makeshift chocks do not provide the needed stability to immobilize a tractor‘s wheel.
 Chock all wheels on articulated vehicles to stop them twisting sideways during jacking.
 Before jacking, apply brakes, place in gear - or ―park‖ for automatic transmissions - and
switch ignition off.
 When operating the jack, only get as close to the tractor as necessary and leave yourself an
escape route should the tractor become unstable and begin to slip from the jack.

When removing wheels

 Loosen wheel nuts before the wheel is off the ground, to avoid any movement that could
dislodge the tractor.
 Before removing a tractor tire from a rim, release all water and air pressure.
 Use safety equipment and procedures to avoid serious injuries from split rims.
 Never jack more than one wheel off the ground at a time in the field.
 If both rear wheels have to be removed, work on a flat, level concrete floor, in the
workshop.
 When removing rear wheels, ensure the front wheels are immobilized by fixing wedges
between axle and body.

TRACTOR SERVICING
Daily Service
This is a service that is performed every day before running your tractor. It is advisable to stick to
these regulations so as to prevent hazardous incidents of damage to our tractor.
 Check the quantity of oil using a deep stick; this has two graduations i.e. the max level and
the min level. Always make sure that the oil is at max level.
 Check the amount of water in the radiator. The purpose of water in the radiator is for
cooling purposes and thereby avoiding over-heating of the engine which result in
expansion of metallic engine parts. The detrimental effects are usually seen when the
engine has cooled and cracks will be appearing.
  Checking of tyre pressure. This avoids the risk of damaging the tyre tube, tyre rim. Tyres
are usually filled with 75%water and 25% air, so that we may have full gripping and
stability.
 Checking on the free play of the brakes and clutch. Free play is the distance recorded
between the stationary position of the paddle to where it starts to be stiff. The larger the
distance the less efficiency are the brakes or clutch.
 Checking whether you fuel is adequate enough to perform an intended task.

Weekly Service
It is a service that is performed every weekend after the devise has been working for the entire
week.
 Tightening of all loose bolts and nuts. Make sure that every loose bolt is tightened as this
prevents dismantling of any part when the tractor will be in motion.
 Application of grease to all grease nipples. There are some parts of the tractor where oil
cannot reach there is need to apply grease. Also due to the viscosity of grease it tends to last
longer than oil.
 Checking on the firmness of the V-belt. The V-belt is responsible for linking the crank-shaft
with the alternator and the fane. Crank-shaft rotates the engine while alternator charges the
battery
 Checking of battery water. It must always be above the cells to avoid damage.
 Monthly Service
 It is a service that is performed on the basis of the mileage of the tractor, however at UZ
farm it is performed after 3 months because of their frequency of use.
 Changing of engine oil. As oil passes to all frictional points in the engine metallic
particulate matter tends to accumulate within thereby contaminating the oil such that it
will have less lubricating ability. Used oil is drained from the engine and should not be
re-used again in the engine.
 Changing of oil filters. Due to accumulation of metallic particles the pore sizes of these
oil filters are enlarged and the filtering capacity decreases. Changed filters should not be
reused again.
 Changing of fuel filters, diesel filters in particular. Fuel may be contaminated during
storage or transportation so there is need to filter out all external material that may have
been carried in fuel and as these accumulate in the filters. The filtering ability is
decreased hence the need for a change.
 Changing of air filters. There are two type of air filter:
o Oil bath
o Dry element
 Oil bath has a container full of oil that traps dust particles from the sucked air and this
type of filters cannot be blown to remove the accumulated dust
 Dry element consists of a series of porous filters with different pore sizes, to the extent
that very small particles are filtered out.
Annual Service
 It is an overall service that is set to assess the performance of the tractor. It is at this service
were major worn out parts are replaced such as worn out tyres, panel beating e.t.c