Abstract
Optimizing configuration of the plough bottom to minimise soil disturbance is an inexpensive way to improve soil quality. This work applied mathematical modelling to improve geometric and physical parameters of a ploughshare body design that define the ploughing performance. The optimised reversible plough was tested in the field by comparing it with a conventional PLP-6-35A plough, which has a rectangular-shaped ploughshare. The trapezoid-shaped design of the ploughshare blade was found to be the most effective solution among the examined. Based on the empirical results, it can be concluded that the draft resistance of trapezoid-shaped plough bottom is 9.9% lower compared to that of the reference one. In addition, the study found that using a trapezoid-shaped plough bottom instead of rectangular-shaped ploughshare blades could increase the ploughing speed by 5.4%, from 2.13 to 2.25 m/s. This effect stems from the reduction in tractor slippage and allow saving 11.09% of fuel. The proposed mathematical model can be used to build a reversible plough with optimised technological characteristics.