Agricultural Machinery
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Knowledge of the working principles, of the main opertaing parameters and of the technical management of agricultural tractors and farm equipment. Understanding of their role in achieving the farm goals and the sustainability of agricultural processes.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge of the technical-operational characteristics of agricultural tractors and farm machinery.
Ability to evaluate their operational performances.
Capability of application of criteria of optimisation in selection and coupling of machinery and tractor.
Ability to evaluate their operational performances.
Capability of application of criteria of optimisation in selection and coupling of machinery and tractor.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1. Introduction (0.25 ECTS). Elements for the technical-economical selection of the machinery in cereals and forage chains, in Italy and in the other Countries where the cereals and forage productions are popular.
2. Recall of the main basic elements of agricultural mechanics (0.5 ECTS): Kinematics: linear and rotational speed, radial and tangential acceleration. Dynamics: forces (friction, tension, centrifugal force), work, torque, power. Efficiency concept. Transmission components: gears, belts and pulleys, clutches.
3. The tractor (1 ECTS). Otto and Diesel cycle engines, with particular focus on the devices for the reduction of the polluting gases. Cooling and lubrication. Combustion air filtering. Diesel engine bench tests, performance curves, with particular focus to the best engine management, to reduce the fuel consumption and the polluting emissions. Powertrains: mechanical, power-shift, CVT, and their efficiency. Tyres and steel and rubber tracks, with particular focus on the soil compaction reduction, to minimize the impact on the cereals and forage productions. Traction and rolling resistance coefficients.
4. Tractor-implement coupling (1 ECTS): the PTO and its technical characteristics; hitch hook and its homologation standards; hydraulic lift and its technical characteristics; tractor hydraulic intakes. Tractor global efficiency (rolling resistance, transmission, PTO, hydraulic system and wheelslip). (1 ECTS)
5. Soil tillage machinery, with particular focus on implements for a low impact. Alternatives to the ploughing: soil cultivators, minimum tillage, zero tillage. (0.5 ECTS)
6. Precision and universal seeding machinery, with particular focus on a sustainable task execution: electronics applications for the best seeding and quality; VRT seeding. (0.25 ECTS)
7. Organic and mineral fertilization machinery, with particular focus on the devices and the techniques for the best spreading quality and the reduction of the off-target fertilizer. (0.25 ECTS)
8. Pesticide spraying machinery, with particular focus on the devices and the techniques for the distribution uniformity and the drift and percolation reduction. (0.5 ECTS)
9. Cereals and forage harvesting machinery, with particular focus on the losses reduction during crop management, harvesting, baling and storage. (0.5 ECTS)
10. Safety and ergonomics in cereals and forage chains operations: field tractors and stability problems (characteristics, standards, tests). Universal joint and PTO shaft. (0.25 ECTS)
11. Technical-didactical visits in tractors and machinery factories, in Research institutions and in cereal and forage farms, including the execution of tests on machinery, with data acquisition and relevant elaboration in the classroom. (1 ECTS)
2. Recall of the main basic elements of agricultural mechanics (0.5 ECTS): Kinematics: linear and rotational speed, radial and tangential acceleration. Dynamics: forces (friction, tension, centrifugal force), work, torque, power. Efficiency concept. Transmission components: gears, belts and pulleys, clutches.
3. The tractor (1 ECTS). Otto and Diesel cycle engines, with particular focus on the devices for the reduction of the polluting gases. Cooling and lubrication. Combustion air filtering. Diesel engine bench tests, performance curves, with particular focus to the best engine management, to reduce the fuel consumption and the polluting emissions. Powertrains: mechanical, power-shift, CVT, and their efficiency. Tyres and steel and rubber tracks, with particular focus on the soil compaction reduction, to minimize the impact on the cereals and forage productions. Traction and rolling resistance coefficients.
4. Tractor-implement coupling (1 ECTS): the PTO and its technical characteristics; hitch hook and its homologation standards; hydraulic lift and its technical characteristics; tractor hydraulic intakes. Tractor global efficiency (rolling resistance, transmission, PTO, hydraulic system and wheelslip). (1 ECTS)
5. Soil tillage machinery, with particular focus on implements for a low impact. Alternatives to the ploughing: soil cultivators, minimum tillage, zero tillage. (0.5 ECTS)
6. Precision and universal seeding machinery, with particular focus on a sustainable task execution: electronics applications for the best seeding and quality; VRT seeding. (0.25 ECTS)
7. Organic and mineral fertilization machinery, with particular focus on the devices and the techniques for the best spreading quality and the reduction of the off-target fertilizer. (0.25 ECTS)
8. Pesticide spraying machinery, with particular focus on the devices and the techniques for the distribution uniformity and the drift and percolation reduction. (0.5 ECTS)
9. Cereals and forage harvesting machinery, with particular focus on the losses reduction during crop management, harvesting, baling and storage. (0.5 ECTS)
10. Safety and ergonomics in cereals and forage chains operations: field tractors and stability problems (characteristics, standards, tests). Universal joint and PTO shaft. (0.25 ECTS)
11. Technical-didactical visits in tractors and machinery factories, in Research institutions and in cereal and forage farms, including the execution of tests on machinery, with data acquisition and relevant elaboration in the classroom. (1 ECTS)
Prerequisites for admission
A basic knowledge of the most common agricultural self-propelled machinery and implements used in open field crop cultivation is required, as well as a good theoretical and practical acquisition of the most frequently adopted cultivation techniques adopted for the open field crops.
Teaching methods
- Classroom lessons: 4 CFU
- Classroom practise: 1 CFU
- Field practice: 1 CFU
- Classroom practise: 1 CFU
- Field practice: 1 CFU
Teaching Resources
Books:
- G. Pellizzi (1996) - Mechanics and agricultural mechanization - Edagricole, Bologna;
- P. Biondi (1999) - Agricultural Mechanics - UTET, Turin;
Official lecture notes and other material useful for exam preparation, available on the websites:
- http://dpessina.altervista.org
- http://web.tiscali.it/profpessina
- G. Pellizzi (1996) - Mechanics and agricultural mechanization - Edagricole, Bologna;
- P. Biondi (1999) - Agricultural Mechanics - UTET, Turin;
Official lecture notes and other material useful for exam preparation, available on the websites:
- http://dpessina.altervista.org
- http://web.tiscali.it/profpessina
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written and a subsequent oral parts, both to be carried out in each single session. Access to the oral part is only possible with an assessment that is not clearly negative (at least 15/30) in the written one.
The written test, to be carried out in 1.5 hours, consists of 4 exercises:
- the first two require the dimensioning of a tractor and/or an implement, in the execution of specific cultivation tasks, starting from the provided data;
- the next two consist of the description of broad topics concerning the program.
The oral exam consists of the preliminary discussion of the written test and in the possible coming through of one or more topics related to the entire program.
For the attending students, an on-going test is foreseen (proposed at about half course), consisting of 26 closed-end questions and a description of a broad topic, included in those already presented during the course. The students who obtain a positive evaluation in the on-going test may carry out a shortened written test in the subsequent exam, consisting of the solution of just one of the dimensioning test and just one of the description of the broad topics.
The written test, to be carried out in 1.5 hours, consists of 4 exercises:
- the first two require the dimensioning of a tractor and/or an implement, in the execution of specific cultivation tasks, starting from the provided data;
- the next two consist of the description of broad topics concerning the program.
The oral exam consists of the preliminary discussion of the written test and in the possible coming through of one or more topics related to the entire program.
For the attending students, an on-going test is foreseen (proposed at about half course), consisting of 26 closed-end questions and a description of a broad topic, included in those already presented during the course. The students who obtain a positive evaluation in the on-going test may carry out a shortened written test in the subsequent exam, consisting of the solution of just one of the dimensioning test and just one of the description of the broad topics.
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION - University credits: 6
Field activity: 8 hours
Practicals: 16 hours
Laboratories: 8 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Practicals: 16 hours
Laboratories: 8 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor:
Pessina Domenico
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment only (preferably defined via e-mail)
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - via Celoria, 2 - 20133 Milano