Analysis of Traffic Patterns and Yield Monitor Data for Field Efficiency Determination
2002
Grisso, R.D. | Jasa, P.J. | Rolofson, D.E.
Field efficiency is an important criterion for determining the expected field capacity and, indirectly, for making important machinery management decisions. The data gathered with a yield monitor during harvest and a DGPS monitor during planting were used to provide time-motion studies of equipment and operator productivity. This study used spatial data gathered by a farmer to determine field performance of a combine and a planter. Five fields were used to compare results from soybean and corn production. Fields that are relatively flat with straight rows were contrasted with contoured fields with slopes up to 3 to 5%. Field efficiency, travel speeds, and unproductive time lapses were compared. When contour patterns were compared with the straight rows, field efficiency dropped on the contours by 10 and 20% for planting and harvesting, respectively. Average travel speeds were slower for contour patterns than straight rows by more than 1.6 km/h (1 mph). Although the histograms of the time lapses were very similar for contour and straight patterns, almost twice the number of time lapses was found with the contour pattern.
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