Characteristics of paddy operations with biodiesel fuelled tractor

biodiesel (BD20) and 100% biodiesel (BD100), alternative fuels for tractors, were tested for its power and competitiveness in the various paddy operations including plowing and rotary tilling in the paddy fields. Troubles such as no ignition or abrupt stopping were not monitored during operations of plowing, rotary tilling and travelling on the road. According to the tractor PTO test in accordance with OECD tractor PTO test codes, no significant PTO power difference was found between the three fuels. However, fuel consumption rates were quite different between the biodiesels and diesel fuel in the paddy works, when biodiesel content went up; fuel consumption rate went up too. About 35~40% more fuel was needed for rotary tilling operation than plowing operation. Within the operations, maximum difference occurred at rotary tilling of wet paddy and this difference was as high as 20%, between BD100 and diesel fuel, 5.45 versus 6.53 l/hr. Regarding exhaust gases, more CO2 was discharged from diesel fuel than biodiesels, but more NOx was discharged with biodiesels. It was difficult to differentiate CO quantities between the three different fuels.