Hi, my name is Jodi DeJong-Hughes and I work for the University Minnesota Extension.
In this series of videos, we're going to learn about what is compaction,
how to build a healthy soil to resist compaction, and what equipment and tire
choices are out there
to help minimize the effects of compaction in your fields. In September
2011
the University of Minnesota Extension partnered with NDSU,
commodity groups, and equipment manufactures
to hold the unique Field Day near Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Four soil pits were created
to demonstrate different management techniques to help
'Take Control' of soil compaction. This video is the fourth in a series of four
to help farmers identify soil compaction and manage it in their own fields.
Ken Brodbeck with Firestone tires spoke to us about the importance of
proper tire care and maintenance.
Experts agree that there's no simpler way to improve your tractor efficiency
than by properly inflating your tires. Proper tire inflation not only improves tractor
efficiency, it can reduce the intensity of the compaction from the tires.
Ken spoke about the importance of a good quality inflation pressure gauge.
When your tire pressure is too low, it can shorten the life
your tire. Tire pressure that is too high can increase wheel slippage,
decrease your fuel efficiency, and create more compaction.
So inflation set too high or too low
can cost you money you. I'll give you two examples here of how
a customer with two different inflation settings for a given load
can either make or break you.
This is a a footprint we made of an actual tire and it shows that it's 24 inches long
and it looks pretty good. If you can see in the video - the centers of the bars
are deflected and punched in and the shoulders of the tread bars
have very little indentation in the into
the foam. This is an overinflated tire. If you look at its
mate, which is properly inflated, you can see the tread's footprint
is much longer. We go from 24 to 29, so huge increase in length
which then equates to better traction, less slippage, and obviously lower inflation pressure.
With the correct inflation pressure, you see here the bars are more evenly - the pressure -
distributed across the base the bars
and that then gives you better traction, less slip and lower compaction.
So inflation pressure is key for making your tractor perform and making sure your
soils are not compacted.
The benefit to adding duals or triples, in addition to better flotation and
traction,
is it reduces the carrying load on each tire.
When you reduce the carrying load, you can reduce the optimal tire inflation
rate.
This decreases the depth and the intensity of the compaction.
Radial tires exert a pressure 1 to 2 pounds greater than their inflation pressure.
For example, if a radial tire is inflated
to 6 PSI, the tire exerts a pressure
7 to 8 PSI on the soil. If you have a heavy axle load
choose the largest tire that provides the lowest inflation pressure
to reduce your compaction potential. To find your proper tire inflation pressure,
weigh your tractor by each axle. Portable scales or the grain elevator scale can
do the job.
Set the inflation pressure to the tire manufacturer's
recommended pressure. These can be found either
in the tire manufacturer's data books or on their website.
Remember, if you add a sprayer or the fertilizer tanks,
these must be added to your total axle weight. If you don't have
access to a scale follow these tips by Ken
to tell if your tires are properly inflated: For
trying to set your pressure, it's difficult unless you can actually run the
machine
over a scale. Not everyone has a scale, obviously, or access to an elevator, but
I tell customers if they have a good flat - and I emphasize flat,
don't do it on a crowned road - a flat concrete service like the shop
with the tractor in its heaviest condition - you can see here we have a
a mounted cultivator, so this is its heaviest condition -
you should be over have one to two - no more than two I would say, just to be
safe - tire's
shoulder bars of the tread touching the concrete. If you can put your finger underneath
those tread bars at center of the axle, you have too much inflation pressure on the tires,
so you can adjust want to 1 to 2 PSI. One to two bars
touching on concrete is a good rule of thumb if you don't have a scale.
To reduce the compaction potential consider buying the largest tire
possible
in diameter, width, and new technology. The taller the tire,
the longer the tire footprint, which gives better traction and efficiency.
The wider the tire, again more load capacity
and better traction. The largest tire will allow for the lowest
proper inflation pressure. Ken also suggests for heavy
axle loads, such as tractors that pulll planters or sprayers,
consider using the new increased flexibility tire technology,
also called IF and BF tires.
Ken also mentioned a new inflation technology,
the central tire inflation system. This technology allows the farmer
to change the tire pressure of his tractor and implement tires
on-the-go. This can be a real time saver for implements that require high
tire pressures for transport, but much lower pressures in the field,
such as the central fill planter. Your soil is the most valuable resource when
growing a healthy and profitable crop.
By paying attention to the proper tire size and pressure,
it's a great way to 'Take Control" of soil compaction.