Taking the pressure off soils

As weather patterns change and working windows appear to get shorter our soils are being put under increasing pressure.

In addition the increasing size of machinery, to make the best of the short weather windows, and the necessity of trafficking on wetter soils to meet cropping and contractual deadlines is compounding this problem. 

The correct tyre set-up is vital to lessen soil damage. Too correctly set-up tyres, it is vital to know the maximum weight that will be carried by the tyre and the maximum speed it will be travelling at. 

These two facts can then be used in accordance with tyre manufacturers’ hand book to determine the minimum pressure that the tyre can be safely operated at as keeping tyre pressures as low as possible will help to reduce some of the damage to the soil in difficult conditions. 

It should be noted that high road speeds require higher pressures however if facilities are available to re-inflate tyres when leaving the field before transport a lot of potential exists to reduce tyre pressures for field work, where speeds are slower, hence reducing soil damage.

Correct tyre set-up has been the subject of recent Arable Business Development Group (BDG) meetings and will also be a topic at the upcoming CAFRE, UAS, UFU Arable Conference which will be held at Greenmount Campus on 11 January 2018. 

BDGs are currently open for new applications until 21 December 2017. 

The Arable Conference is open for registrations via the UFU website. Select events from the website.

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