CO₂ emission as a result of the fuel consumption and tillage quality in different tillage conditions

Moldboard plow is the most common primary tillage implement, largest consumer of energy and a significant contributor to CO₂ emission in agriculture. Operational variables in tillage could influence the environment and tillage quality. In the present study a field split-factorial experiment was conducted to examine the influence of soil water content, plowing depth and operating speed in tillage by moldboard plow on clod size, soil inversion, fuel consumption and CO₂ emission as a result of the fuel consumption. Results showed plowing in moist of 15% formed clods significantly smaller than moist of 10% and increased soil inversion. A 33% increase in soil water content increased the fuel consumption and CO₂ emission by 21.21% approximately. Effect of plowing depth on clod size, fuel consumption and CO₂ emission were significant. Plowing at depth of 0.20 m significantly decreased clod size, fuel consumption and CO₂ emission compared with plowing at depth of 0.25 m. The effect of plowing depth on soil inversion was not significant but decreasing plowing depth tends to increase soil inversion. Effect of operating speed on all attributes was significant. Increase operating speed from 3 to 5.5 kmh⁻¹ decreased clod size, fuel consumption and CO₂ emission as a result of the fuel consumption and increased soil inversion significantly.