LAUSR

Abstract Digging holes for planting, which is a minimal tillage method, is beneficial in terms of reducing energy consumption and preventing erosion. Current popular hole diggers operate intermittently to give low productivity, and this problem can be solved by continuous hole digging machine with active tillage unit. On the basis of established principles, the kinematics of machine and its optimal parameters have been studied and determined. This paper presents the results of the study on dynamics of a tractor combined with a continuous excavator, as a basis for determining the combination’s working parameters, such as the speed of the unit and the number of rows. The experimental data on digger’s drag torque and the characteristics of Kubota B2530 tractor are the basis for simulating the working process at different speeds. The inequality of rotation speed and the moment of engine crankshaft is determined. Aggregates with single-row digger work stably in gears P1 to P6, while with double-row digger, stable operation is in gears P1 to P5. The productivity of a continuous operating digger is superior to that of an intermittent operating one. A continuous operating digger can reach 3500 pits·hour-1 with a double-row or 2400 pits·hour-1 with a single-row tractor aggregate.