Mechanisation of field maintenance on peat soil
Paper presented at Symposium on Engineering Towards Progressive
agriculture, UPM, 1983
Author : Ooi, H.S.
ABSSTRACT
Mechanisation on peat is a difficult task due to its very
low soil bearing capacity and to the presence of undecomposed
wood. With the prevailing labour shortage in the country,
mechanisation of field maintenance on peat is being given
increasing attention. Shrubs and lalang on idle peat lend as
well as old crops need to be destroyed and cleared to enabled
the planting of new crops. Research was carried out on
mechanical clearing of shrubs and old crops in combination
with chemical treatment. The clearing of undecomposed wood in
peat would facilitate mechanisation of crop production on
peat. Studies on potential mechanical systems of wood
clearing were undertaken. Adequate field drainage is
necessary for crop production on peat. However the presence
of undecomposed wood in peat has limited the range of drain
construction equipment suitable for peat. Field tests to
evaluate the performance of a mini-excavator in the
mechanisation of land clearing (of shrubs and undecomposed
wood) and drain construction (and maintenance) on peat were
carried out. Functionally it performed satisfactorily,
however, the machine had to be used for at least 1000 hours
for it to be economically feasible.
ABSTRAK
Kerja mekanisasi atas tanah gambut adalah susah kerana
tanah lembut dan mengandungi banyak kayu. Mekanisasi
diperlukan untuk mengatasi kekurangan buruh. Semak, belukar,
lalang dan tanaman tua perlu dihapuskan untuk ditanam tanaman
baru. Kombinasi penjenteraan dengan rawatan kimia
dikajiselidik. Pembersihan kayu akan memudahkan kerja
mekanisasi pengeluaran tanaman atas tanah gambut dan beberapa
sistem berjentera sedang dikaji. Parit ladang adalah penting
untuk tumbuhan tanaman di tanah gambut. Dengan adanya kayu,
mesin biasa untuk pembinaan parit tidak boleh digunakan.
Sebuah jenkaut kecil (mini-excavator) telah diuji untuk
menjalankan kerja-kerja pembersihan kayu, penghapusan semak
dan pembinaan parit ladang. Didapati prestasi jentera ini
adalah memuaskan. Walau bagaimanapun dari segi ekonomi,
jentera ini perlu digunakan sekurang-kurangnya 1000 jam
setahun.
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