Difficult weather conditions are only to be expected for many farmers. Abundant rain, waterlogged soil and muddy land make working in the fields quite tricky. You have most likely already experienced these frustrating situations: incessant slippage which slows down your work rate, fuel consumption on the rise, or even ruts and soil compaction which compromise future harvests.
These issues, far from anecdotic, can lead to major losses, both in terms of yields and in terms of profitability. However, each type of soil is unique and each climate zone requires a specific solution. So how do you choose the right tyres to cope with difficult conditions while protecting your soil? How can you maximise the efficiency of your machines?
This article looks into tyre solutions and technologies that are suitable for soft, wet ground in order to protect productivity and soil quality. Think about giving your farm the most suitable equipment, which it needs to prosper, even when faced with bad weather.
Choosing the right tyre for your tractor is vital for coping with the specificities of wet soil. A good understanding of the stakes will help you implement agricultural practices that are better suited to your weather conditions and more soil friendly.
The softness, stickiness and instability of wet soil makes it especially difficult to work on. The tyres’ traction capacity is effectively considerably reduced, with agricultural machinery likely to slip, sink into the ground and create ruts.
These difficulties during work lead to a considerable loss of time and a loss of efficiency during agricultural campaigns.
Frequent agricultural machine traffic over waterlogged land causes severe compaction at the level of every soil horizon, significantly reducing the soil’s absorption capacity and porosity.
This compaction limits the infiltration of water and the correct aeration and development of the root system. These problems end up causing damage to the soil structure, diminishing soil fertility and agricultural yields in the long run.
Working on wet soil leads to excess fuel consumption and an increase in rolling resistance.
As the tyres sink into the ground, the extra amount of slip requires more power from the engine, which results in more fuel being used up.
The multiplication of manoeuvres required to get out of the mud or to avoid getting stuck only add to the problem. As a result, additional costs are inevitable which results in a decrease in farm profitability.
VF technology low-pressure tyres are designed to reduce soil compaction thanks to their longer, wider soil footprint.
We all know that soil aeration work is costly and time consuming.
By using tyres that are more suited to bad weather conditions, you will be able to limit compaction, leading to:
Decompaction work does not always make it possible to restore the soil structure entirely. This is why preventing compaction is a more economical solution than trying to repair the soil structure.
Good tyre pressure management is a great way of optimising tractor performance and protecting your soil, in particular in wet conditions.
Precise pressure adjustments can help improve grip, reduce slip and limit soil compaction.
An overinflated tyre sinks deeper into the ground, and will tend to compact and damage the soil structure. It will grip less and is likely to slip more.
Increased rolling resistance inevitably leads to a loss of time and more fuel needed, resulting in a loss of productivity.
You should always consult your tyre manufacturer recommendations first, but in general it is advisable to:
Central tyre inflation systems are designed to allow you to adjust pressure settings directly from the tractor cab.
The advantages are multiple:
Low-pressure tyres such as the VT-TRACTOR tyre are particularly recommended for agricultural labours in wet or bad weather conditions.
VF low-pressure tyres are designed to work at an inflation pressure much lower than traditional tyres.
This technology is based on a reinforced casing and special materials which allow the tyre to cope with heavy loads at a low inflation pressure, without incurring any structural damage.
These tyre models are designed to reduce soil compaction and improve traction.
Bridgestone’s VT-TRACTOR tyres are the fruit of innovative R&D work focused on optimising modern tractor performance.
Their characteristics make it possible to work at low pressure and improve your yields, especially in wet conditions:
Slip is when the tyre slides on the ground. Too much slip leads to a loss of energy and an increase in fuel consumption
These premium tyres have a longer, larger soil footprint. The bigger the contact patch with the ground, the better the distribution of the tractive force.
More lugs can work together at the same time. This more balanced distribution of horizontal torque means that the tyre has a better grip on the ground, thus reducing the risk of slipping.
In addition, its innovative “Involute” tyre lug optimises traction. Thanks to their cleverly designed profile, the lugs evacuate earth more efficiently with every rotation of the wheel, facilitating the self-cleaning of the tread. This improves adherence, especially on soft or wet ground.
By reducing pressure and optimising the contact patch, low-pressure VT-TRACTOR tyres decrease rolling resistance. This means that the tractor needs less energy to move forwards.
A well-considered choice of tyre can contribute significantly to the profitability of a farm, especially in wet regions.
Low-pressure tyres, such as the VT-TRACTOR tyre, offer an efficient solution to the problems caused by soft soil by reducing compaction, slip and excess fuel consumption.
In addition, their wear-resistance make them a very profitable long-term investment.
The bridgestone-agriculture.eu blog is written and administered by tractor tyre experts who can provide you with advice to help you achieve optimum productivity (Technical data on agricultural tyres - Agricultural tyre performance - Advice on agricultural tyre pressure - Soil compaction prevention - Sprayer tyre pressure - etc.)
To take it a step further and increase your farm’s profitability, the blog Bridgestone-agriculture.eu has prepared a free, highly detailed ebook which explains the essential role of the agricultural tyre on your productivity.
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