DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR MATCHING TRACTOR POWER AND IMPLEMENT SIZE IN IRRIGATED FARMING OF SUDAN
International Educational Applied Scientific Research Journal, 1 (2):
18-22 (November 2016)Abstract
A decision support system (DSS) was developedin Visual Basic 6.0 programming languageto match tractor power and implement size. The proper selection and matching of tractor and implements is becoming very important and difficult in Sudan because of the availability of variety of tractor models and powers ranging from 20 to > 100kW and variety ofimplement sizes. The program options permit the user to select the type of operation and the types of implements available in his/her farm. The system enables the user to insert the inputs data through file system, and obtain the output easily. The developed system was tested with a case study using data from The Arab Investment Corporation-Um Doom Farm. It was found that the power used in the farm can match the implement available. In addition, it was tested by making comparison between the power required for zero tillage and for conventional tillage. The sensitivity analyses showed that changing in some parameters such asspeed, width and soil factor affected the power required for the farm.According to the results, the decision support system worked well in matching tractor power and implements sizes for proper performance.Developing other computer programs to assist farm machinery manager in decision–making to solve the problems will face them in this system can be used to help the managers in the decision-making for calculating the power required and matching power available and implement required for economical machinery use