Farm Tractors acquired in Oyo State-Nigeria are primarily utilized for ploughing operations which represents the most costly single item in the budget of an arable farmer. Tractor fuel consumption constitutes a significant parameter that affects ploughing operations performances. Ploughing operations, using ASABE standard D 497.5 were carried out using Massey Ferguson ( MF 435, 100 hp), Fiat ( F130D, 100 hp) and Steyr ( CVT170, 100 hp) tractors that were purchased in 2009. Field experiments were conducted at 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 km/h ploughing speeds for ploughing depths of 20, 25 and 30 cm. Mean fuel consumption for Fiat, MF and Steyr models were 23.35, 23.58 and 24.55 l/ha while average of 16.78, 22.02 and 32.67 l/ha of diesel were used to plough 20, 25 and 30 cm depths, respectively. Fuel consumption increased by 31% when ploughing depth increased from 20 to 25 cm and 48% when increased from 25 to 30 cm. Mean fuel consumption at 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 km/h ploughing speeds were 20.0, 24.25 and 27.23 l/ha, respectively. Fuel consumption varies significantly with ploughing depth and speed (p<0.05, 0.87≤r 2 ≤0.99). Fuel consumption values increases with ploughing dept and speed significantly, the depth of crop roots should determine the appropriate ploughing depth in order to minimize expenses on fuel.

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