Science & Technology

A Swedish invention can prevent soil compaction in agriculture

Food production must increase. At the same time, at least 6% of the harvests are lost due to soil compaction, a problem that has increased with heavier machines. If soil compaction could be reduced, the soil would be more fertile and easier to cultivate, which would save fuel. Furthermore, biodiversity would increase as, for example, earthworms thrive in loose soil. Less soil compaction also contributes to the reduction of nitrous oxide emissions from soil.

A Swedish team has now invented a concept called the Compaction Prevention System (CPS) that can prevent soil compaction. The concept is presented for the first time now in June. CPS was awarded the Agritechnica Innovation Award 2022 on June 15 during the DLG Feldtage.

How does CPS work then? - A computer processor is fed with information about soil pressure, soil type, soil moisture and field status. The latter is included because roots from growing crops can make the soil less susceptible to pack damage, says Alice Molin, a civil engineering student and part of the team behind the invention. - The information is updated in real time and communicated through a risk meter that the farmer can have in the cab and through maps that can also be analysed at the farm office, says Axel Lagerfelt, technology agronomist, farmer and part of the team.

CPS has been developed within the framework of the innovation platform Agtech 2030, which is coordinated by Linköping University. Behind CPS are farmers, advisors, researchers and civil engineering students.

New intelligent combine tyres

Continental CombineMaster and CombineMaster VF tyres can now be specified with ContiPressureCheck™, a unique tyre monitoring system that will help to prevent downtime this harvest.

ContiPressureCheck™ monitors the pressure and temperature of tyres. Sensors in the tyre communicate the pressure and the heat build-up to help the operator decide on the optimum operating pressure. There are two warning levels offered by the sensor. The first suggests that a fault has occurred, but the machine can continue to work. The second calls for an immediate stop due to a more severe tyre problem.

“This is a good way to improve the life of combine tyres and reduce unnecessary downtime. Operators can choose to have a handheld device, or a terminal mounted in the cab. Both will feed back information on the tyre and help the operator to make adjustments that will reduce the likelihood of tyre failure,” explains Continental agricultural tyre specialist Rebecca Shedden.

The most sensitive part of a tyre is the valve. ContiPressureCheck™ provides tyre data without the need to touch the valve.