Energy cost of the most common mechanized agricultural operations in Chile

Abstract

A study was conducted whose objectives were to establish the energy cost of the principal mechanized agricultural operations in Chile and compare the costs of the different sizes of machines sold in the country, testing the hypothesis that the energy cost of an operation is independent from the size of the equipment. Hourly costs /MJ/h), costs per worked area (MJ/ha) and per mass processed (MJ/T) were calculated adding up the energy sequestered in the construction materials, manufacturing, transport, fuel, lubricants, filters, repairs, maintenance, and in the labor needed to operate the machines. The values per worked área and mass processed were calculated using the work capacity of the machines. The results showed that the largest energy costs corresponded to the operation of choppers, foggers, grain harvesters and plows. The smallest costs corresponded to the operation of centrifugal fertilizers and boom sprayers. The hourly energy costs depend upon the machine sizes but the costs per worked area or mass processed are independent of such sizes.