Technological Model of Deep Soil Loosening
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32515/2414-3820.2026.56.185-198Keywords:
chisel shank, deep soil loosening, technological model, critical depth, draft resistance, degree of soil fragmentationAbstract
In modern cropping systems, the operation of heavy agricultural machinery leads to subsoil compaction, which restricts root system development and soil aeration. To restore soil properties, deep loosening with chisel shanks is applied; however, this process significantly differs from conventional plowing due to the existence of a critical depth and high energy intensity. Until now, the lack of a formalized model integrating soil failure mechanisms, draft resistance, and implement parameters into a unified system has remained an unresolved problem. The aim of this study is to develop and theoretically substantiate a generalized technological model of the deep loosening process that integrates the physico-mechanical, energetic, and structural-functional levels of interaction for the design of combined subsoilers.
The study employs a multi-level "input-process-output" system model and the mathematical apparatus of stochastic Markov processes to describe the fragmentation of soil aggregates. The main result of this work is the establishment of an analytical relationship between the critical loosening depth (a force parameter) and the intensity of soil fragmentation (a quality indicator) via a dimensionless relative depth coefficient and a useful energy fraction function. The theoretical significance of the model lies in the scientific explanation of why the rational tillage depth should lie within the critical range: exceeding it exponentially decreases the fraction of useful energy and degrades soil fragmentation. The practical value is derived from the possibility of engineering justification for the parameters of combined chisel plows which, due to additional rollers, ensure a high degree of fragmentation (70...75%) at a rational depth of 32...42 cm.
Based on the research results, it is concluded that the critical depth is the primary parameter of the model, as operating below this threshold is energetically inefficient and leads to soil mass compaction instead of loosening. It is demonstrated that high tillage quality is achieved specifically through the structural and functional integration of the main shares (for macro-fracturing) and additional working tools (for subsequent pulverization). The proposed generalized model is validated by comparison with existing experimental data and establishes a foundation for further digital verification of the working tools' parameters using the discrete element method (DEM).
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