Computerized Tillage Computerized Tillage System CalculatorSystem Calculator

Help ManualHelp Manual

Created by:Jake Walker, Aaron Weinhold, Adam DuffAgricultural Systems ManagementCopyright 2004 Purdue University

Getting StartedGetting Started

Once the program Once the program is loaded, click on is loaded, click on the picture to start the picture to start running the running the calculator. calculator.

Getting StartedGetting Started

After clicking on the picture, the After clicking on the picture, the input boxes will start running and ask input boxes will start running and ask for your information. for your information.

Follow these boxes and enter the Follow these boxes and enter the information requested. When you’re information requested. When you’re finished, the program will calculate finished, the program will calculate the outputs for you.the outputs for you.

Now lets run through an example!Now lets run through an example!

Selecting Tractor BrandSelecting Tractor Brand

This allows you to select the brand of This allows you to select the brand of tractor you will be using. tractor you will be using.

By clicking the drop down arrow, you will be By clicking the drop down arrow, you will be able to see the brands available. able to see the brands available.

Selecting the ModelSelecting the Model

Next you will select the specific model of Next you will select the specific model of tractor. tractor.

Selecting Drive TypeSelecting Drive Type

This box allows you to select the type of This box allows you to select the type of drive that the tractor uses. drive that the tractor uses.

Selecting Implement TypeSelecting Implement Type

Now, select the implement you wish to use Now, select the implement you wish to use with the selected tractor. with the selected tractor.

Entering Field Efficiency Entering Field Efficiency

This box allows you to This box allows you to enter the field enter the field efficiency, if known. If efficiency, if known. If not, this can be left not, this can be left blank and a typical blank and a typical value will be entered value will be entered for you.for you.

You must enter this as You must enter this as a number from 0-1. a number from 0-1. Ex. 85% must be Ex. 85% must be entered in as .85.entered in as .85.

Entering Tool Spacing or Entering Tool Spacing or WidthWidth

Depending on the implement you choose, the next step will vary. Depending on the implement you choose, the next step will vary. If width is asked here, just enter the implement’s width in feet. If width is asked here, just enter the implement’s width in feet. If spacing is asked, enter the tool spacing in inches. If spacing is asked, enter the tool spacing in inches. *If you do not know the implement’s spacing in feet and only in*If you do not know the implement’s spacing in feet and only in inches, a formula can be entered here to figure it for you. inches, a formula can be entered here to figure it for you. Ex. “=(spacing in inches)/12” Ex. “=(spacing in inches)/12”

Entering Number of ToolsEntering Number of Tools

If the width is asked in the previous step, this step will be skipped If the width is asked in the previous step, this step will be skipped and will not appear.and will not appear.

Otherwise, you will enter the number of tools that the implement Otherwise, you will enter the number of tools that the implement has.has.

If you know the working width, but not the number of tools, you If you know the working width, but not the number of tools, you can enter a formula as follows: can enter a formula as follows: =(working width)/(tool spacing in inches)*12=(working width)/(tool spacing in inches)*12

Entering Tillage DepthEntering Tillage Depth

Next you will need to enter your tillage Next you will need to enter your tillage depth in inches.depth in inches.

Entering Fuel PriceEntering Fuel Price

Here you will enter the price you pay for Here you will enter the price you pay for fuel.fuel.

Entering Labor CostEntering Labor Cost

Next, enter the price you will be paying for Next, enter the price you will be paying for labor during the operation in dollars per labor during the operation in dollars per hour. hour.

Entering SpeedsEntering Speeds

The next few inputs will ask you for operating The next few inputs will ask you for operating speeds in fine (clays), medium (silts), and coarse speeds in fine (clays), medium (silts), and coarse (sand) textured soils. This is entered in mph. (sand) textured soils. This is entered in mph.

You can either enter different speeds for more You can either enter different speeds for more precise outputs or simply enter the same speed precise outputs or simply enter the same speed for each soil type. for each soil type.

Selecting Tractive Selecting Tractive ConditionsConditions

Now select the tractive conditions you Now select the tractive conditions you will be operating in. will be operating in.

Firm = non-worked groundFirm = non-worked ground Tilled = worked ground, but has settledTilled = worked ground, but has settled Soft = ground recently worked and not Soft = ground recently worked and not

settledsettled

Entering Number of AcresEntering Number of Acres

The next few steps will ask you the number The next few steps will ask you the number of acres of fine, medium, and coarse of acres of fine, medium, and coarse textured soils that you will be operating in. textured soils that you will be operating in.

VerificationVerification

After the acreage is entered, a After the acreage is entered, a verification table will appear. Here verification table will appear. Here you can accept the inputs or make you can accept the inputs or make changes if mistakes have been made. changes if mistakes have been made.

To do this you simply click on the edit To do this you simply click on the edit button next to the input you would button next to the input you would like to change and click the “make like to change and click the “make changes” button at the bottom. changes” button at the bottom.

OutputsOutputs

Once the accept button Once the accept button is pushed, it will take is pushed, it will take you to the output table. you to the output table.

Here you can look at the Here you can look at the breakdown of the breakdown of the outputs for the soil outputs for the soil types. types.

At the bottom of this At the bottom of this table are various options table are various options to choose from. These to choose from. These will now be explained as will now be explained as you continue. you continue.

Field TotalsField Totals

Click on the Field Totals Button. Click on the Field Totals Button. This will take you to the totals This will take you to the totals for the entire acreage entered.for the entire acreage entered.

You can then click to go back to You can then click to go back to the soils output or quit the the soils output or quit the program.program.

Put Data in SummaryPut Data in Summary

Clicking the “Put Data in Summary” Clicking the “Put Data in Summary” button will take your inputs and the button will take your inputs and the calculated outputs and store them in calculated outputs and store them in a summary table. You can do this for a summary table. You can do this for up to six different scenarios. The up to six different scenarios. The summary table will explained later on summary table will explained later on in this manual. in this manual.

Editing InputsEditing Inputs

By clicking the “Edit Inputs” button, By clicking the “Edit Inputs” button, you will be able to go back and make you will be able to go back and make changes to the inputs. changes to the inputs.

To do this, simply follow the steps in To do this, simply follow the steps in the previous “Verification” slide. the previous “Verification” slide.

New ScenarioNew Scenario

The “New Scenario” button will The “New Scenario” button will simply start the program over and simply start the program over and erase your current inputs. erase your current inputs.

If you place your outputs in the Data If you place your outputs in the Data Summary before starting the Summary before starting the program over, your scenario program over, your scenario information will not be lost. information will not be lost.

Data Table SummaryData Table Summary

The “Go to Summary Table” button will take The “Go to Summary Table” button will take you to the Data Table Summary. you to the Data Table Summary.

This will show all of your inputs and outputs This will show all of your inputs and outputs for the scenario in a printable form. for the scenario in a printable form.

Up to six scenarios can be saved to the Up to six scenarios can be saved to the summary for comparison. summary for comparison.

To name each of your scenarios, enter the To name each of your scenarios, enter the name into the top row (highlighted in blue) name into the top row (highlighted in blue) of each scenario.of each scenario.

Data Table SummaryData Table Summary

You will notice all of your inputs and the You will notice all of your inputs and the calculated outputs in this table.calculated outputs in this table.

One feature that this table has is that it One feature that this table has is that it shows your optimum speed to operate in shows your optimum speed to operate in each of the different soils (also shown in each of the different soils (also shown in the soils output table). This is calculated the soils output table). This is calculated by minimizing the total costs (labor and by minimizing the total costs (labor and fuel) by varying your operating speed.fuel) by varying your operating speed.

You can then go back and edit your speed You can then go back and edit your speed inputs to show an “optimized” scenario.inputs to show an “optimized” scenario.

Data Table SummaryData Table Summary

Once the data is evaluated; you can Once the data is evaluated; you can clear the summary form, return to clear the summary form, return to the program to enter more the program to enter more information, clear the last entry, or information, clear the last entry, or print the summary all with the print the summary all with the buttons at top of the page. buttons at top of the page.

Charts and visualsCharts and visuals

There are four charts included with There are four charts included with the program that make comparing the program that make comparing different scenarios easy. To look at different scenarios easy. To look at these, simply click on the correct tab these, simply click on the correct tab at the bottom of the page.at the bottom of the page.

You can always return to the program You can always return to the program by clicking on the “outputs” tab and by clicking on the “outputs” tab and pushing “Return to program.”pushing “Return to program.”

Costs per acreCosts per acre

This chart shows the costs per acre This chart shows the costs per acre for fuel, labor, and also combined for fuel, labor, and also combined costs for all of your scenarios.costs for all of your scenarios.

Required HorsepowerRequired Horsepower

This chart shows the required This chart shows the required horsepower in each of the three soils.horsepower in each of the three soils.

You will also notice the maximum You will also notice the maximum horsepower available from your horsepower available from your tractor is indicated with a dash.tractor is indicated with a dash.

Fuel CostsFuel Costs

This chart shows the difference in This chart shows the difference in fuel costs for each of the three soils.fuel costs for each of the three soils.

You will notice that the difference You will notice that the difference decreases as you optimize your decreases as you optimize your speed.speed.

Labor and Fuel CostsLabor and Fuel Costs

This chart is similar to the previous This chart is similar to the previous one, but combines the labor and fuel one, but combines the labor and fuel costs for each of the soils.costs for each of the soils.

Once again, the differences in soils Once again, the differences in soils can be minimized if you optimize the can be minimized if you optimize the speed as recommended by the speed as recommended by the program.program.

When finished with the When finished with the programprogram

You can now:You can now: Save your informationSave your information Print the summary table and/or chartsPrint the summary table and/or charts Clear your information and start againClear your information and start again Add more scenariosAdd more scenarios Exit the programExit the program