ABSTRACT Sugarcane is one of Brazil's leading crops, and the transshipment harvesting operation represents a significant portion of operating costs. Among the primary machines used in harvesting is the tractor-transshipment set, with considerable energy demands. This study focused on evaluating the gear selection effect in an agricultural tractor on operational performance and costs during the sugarcane transshipment operation. The treatments consisted of four operational work gears at different engine speeds: r1 – 1150 rpm, r2 – 1230 rpm, r3 – 1360 rpm, and r4 – 1500 rpm on the engine. The analyzed variables were volumetric and specific fuel consumption, operational efficiency, and operational cost. The variables were adapted from ASABE (2011) methodology, and the data were submitted to parametric statistics and regression analysis. The rotation engine selection in tractors directly affected fuel consumption with positive angular coefficients and r2 between 0.92-0.96. Fuel consumption reduces by 37.5%, adopting 1150 rpm compared to 1500 rpm rotation. The highest rotation (1500 rpm - r4) increased the volumetric and productive fuel consumption, enabling savings up to reduced fuel cost by 1.08 US$ ha -1 . Thus, training sugarcane transshipment operators is essential to optimize the production process efficiency and reduce costs.

ABSTRACT One of the reasons for the success of a productive culture is the correct sowing. Therefore, the seeds must be properly dosed, deposited and not damaged by the metering mechanism of the seed drill. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate in a simulator the sorghum seed deposition by a metering mechanism with continuous flow in different conditions of slope and sowing speed, and evaluate the quality of the deposited seeds assessing mechanical damage and germination. The experiment was carried out at the College of Agricultural Sciences, UNESP in Botucatu-SP, being used a simulator equipped with seed metering mechanism of helical channelled rotor type. The experimental design was randomized in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement with six replications. The factors were three lateral slopes drill, 3%, 8% and 16%, and two sowing speed, 4 and 10 km h-1. For the damage and germination variables we added a control treatment whose seeds were evaluated without being distributed by the metering mechanism. The results indicate that increasing the lateral slope and working speed reduce the rate of seed deposition. The metering mechanism provides mechanical damage and contributes to the reduction of seed germination.

RESUMO O milho é um produto de grande importância na agricultura, em função de sua ampla utilização e das formas de produção. Tendo em vista esses cenários, o trabalho teve como objetivo a análise econômica do sistema de produção de milho utilizando diferentes híbridos de milho e preparos de solo. O estudo foi realizado na Fazenda Experimental Lageado, pertencente à Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas/UNESP de Botucatu-SP. Foram analisados dois híbridos em dois tipos de sistemas de preparo do solo, sendo milho convencional e milho transgênico, em preparo convencional e cultivo mínimo. Para os diferentes tipos de cultivo, foram utilizados os mesmos tratores, implementos e adubação, sendo os seguintes parâmetros analisados: custos operacionais, custos de insumos, renda bruta, renda líquida e relação benefício/custo dos sistemas de cultivo. Conclui-se que a utilização de milho transgênico proporciona redução dos custos operacionais e com insumos, possibilitando, em preparo de cultivo mínimo do solo, maior produtividade, renda líquida e relação benefício/custo.

ABSTRACT Corn is an agricultural crop of major importance regarding its wide use and production forms. Given these background, this work aimed at analyzing economically the corn production chain with different hybrids and soil tillage systems. The study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Lageado, located in the College of Agricultural Sciences/ UNESP, campus in Botucatu-SP, Brazil. We analyzed two corn hybrids, one conventional and another transgenic, on soil prepared by conventional cultivation practices and minimum cultivation. The same tractors, implements, and fertilizers were employed for both tillage systems. We evaluated operating costs, input costs, gross income, net income, as well as benefit and cost ratio of both cropping systems. Therefore, we concluded that transgenic corn provides reduced operating costs and inputs, enabling higher yield, net income and benefit/cost relationship when cropped with minimum cultivation practices.

O plantio cruzado da soja consiste em semear a área em duas passadas de modo que a segunda fique perpendicular à primeira, formando um tabuleiro de xadrez. Desta forma, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e os custos de produção da cultura da soja quando semeada em diferentes arranjos de semeadura cruzada. O experimento foi realizado nas safras 2011/2012 e 2012/2013, em área cultivada em sistema de plantio direto. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com 5 tratamentos e 8 repetições. Os tratamentos foram: semeadura em linhas paralelas com adubação e população de plantas recomendada; semeadura cruzada com população e adubo em dobro; semeadura cruzada com população recomendada e adubo em dobro; semeadura cruzada com população em dobro e adubação recomendada; semeadura cruzada com população de plantas e adubo recomendado. Os resultados mostraram maior produtividade para o tratamento de semeadura cruzada com população de plantas em dobro e adubo recomendado; apesar disto, a semeadura convencional em linhas paralelas apresenta maior receita líquida do que a semeadura cruzada da soja sendo, então, mais rentável para o produtor.

Soybean cross-seeding tillage came from better spatial arrangement of plants per area, so some producers have opted for this tillage system, which consists in seeding the area in two steps, forming a chessboard with perpendicular lines of tillage. This study aims to analyse the soybean productivity and production costs when it planted in different dispositions of crossed tillage. The experiment was conducted during the harvests 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 at Lageado Farm of the FCA/UNESP, Botucatu-SP, in an area cultivated under no-tillage. The experimental design was in randomized block with five treatments and eight replications. The treatments were: seeding in parallel rows with recommended fertilization and recommended plant population (conventional); cross-seeding with doubled fertilization and doubled plant population; cross-seeding with recommended plant population and doubled fertilization; cross-seeding with doubled plant population and recommended fertilization; cross-seeding with fertilization and recommended plant population. The results showed statistical difference among the treatments, with increased productivity for the cross-seeding with doubled plant population and recommended fertilization. However the conventional tillage with parallel lines shows higher net earnings than soybean cross-seeding, being more profitable for producer.

Realizou-se este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho dos mecanismos de corte de palha de uma semeadora-adubadora em diferentes coberturas vegetais e cargas verticais aplicadas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso e esquema fatorial 3 x 4, com 4 repetições. Os trabalhos foram realizados com três diferentes mecanismos de corte de palha (disco liso, disco corrugado e disco ondulado) utilizando-se quatro diferentes cargas verticais (750, 1500, 2250 e 3000 N) em cinco coberturas de palha (milho, sorgo, aveia preta, triticale e nabiça). Os resultados mostraram que quanto maior a quantidade de matéria seca da cobertura vegetal maior também é a demanda de forças horizontal e vertical. O disco de corte ondulado possibilita os maiores valores de área de solo mobilizado, exige maiores valores de força horizontal, força vertical e força horizontal por profundidade de corte dos discos (força específica). O tratamento com disco liso exigiu maiores valores de força horizontal por área de solo mobilizado e de força vertical nas coberturas de milho e sorgo.

This work had as objective to evaluate the performance of mechanisms of cutting of the no-tillage seedrills in different vegetable coverings and applied vertical loads. The experimental design used was in randomized blocks and factorial scheme 3 x 4, with four replications. The trials were accomplished with three different mechanisms of culting of the straw (plane disc, corrugated disc and wavy disc), using four different vertical loads (750, 1500, 2250 and 3000 N). All treatments were accomplished in five straw coverings (corn, sorghum, triticale, black oats and radish). The results showed that larger the amount of dry matter covering the soil, higher the demand of horizontal and vertical forces. The wavy disc promotes the largest values of area of mobilized soil and requires large horizontal force, vertical force and horizontal force per area of cutting depth of discs (specific force). The treatment with plane disc required higher values of the horizontal forces per area of mobilized soil and of vertical force in the corn and sorghum coverings.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o consumo de energia na implantação e condução da cultura do Crambe abyssinica Hochst, em sistema de plantio direto, na Fazenda Experimental Lageado, pertencente à Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas - UNESP, localizada no município de Botucatu - SP. Avaliando a sustentabilidade do sistema, estimaram-se, a eficiência energética e a cultura do crambe. Para o levantamento dos componentes da estrutura de dispêndios, foram utilizados coeficientes energéticos preconizados em literaturas especializadas. As estruturas de dispêndios energéticos por tipo, fonte e forma demonstraram que a energia indireta participou com 65,03%; as fontes industrial, fóssil e biológica representaram 68,80%, 23,67% e 11,30%, respectivamente. Quanto às formas em que se apresentaram, os fertilizantes químicos contribuíram com 44,31%, e o óleo diesel, com 23,04%, totalizando 67,35% do dispêndio energético, evidenciando a dependência do sistema das fontes energéticas industriais e fósseis. A eficiência da cultura encontrada foi de 9,98, apontando que, para cada unidade calórica aplicada na produção do crambe, o retorno foi de 8,98 unidades, a eficiência energética foi superior a 38, demonstrando alta sustentabilidade do sistema agrícola, tendo atingido energia cultural superior a 37 mil MJ ha-1.

The objective of this study was to characterize the energy consumption in the deployment and conduction of the culture of Crambe abyssinica Hochst in no-tillage, at the Experimental Farm belonging to the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences - UNESP, located in Botucatu - SP, Brazil. Assessing the sustainability of the system were estimated, energy efficiency and culture of crambe. To survey the components of the structure of expenditures, it was used Energetic coefficients in specialized literature. The structures of energy expenditure by type, source and form, demonstrated that the indirect energy participated with 65.03%, industrial sources, fossil and biological accounted for 68.80%, 23.67% and 11.30%, respectively. The forms have been introduced; chemical fertilizers contributed 44.31% and diesel to 23.04% to 67.35% of energy expenditure, showing the dependence of the system of energy sources and industrial fuels. The efficiency of the culture was found to be 9.98, indicating that for each calorie used in the production of crambe return was 8.98 units, the efficiency was above 38, demonstrating the high sustainability of the agricultural system to reach energy cultural exceeding 37 thousand MJ ha-1.

Foi avaliado o consumo energético das operações mecanizadas envolvidas na produção de silagem de planta inteira e silagem de "grão úmido" de milho, tendo como referência o processamento seco desse cereal. O ensaio foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Lageado, pertencente à Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, e nas instalações da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - UNESP, localizada no município de Botucatu - SP. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas no tempo (três épocas de colheita: silagem de planta inteira, silagem de "grão úmido" e colheita de grãos secos), com 10 repetições. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas por meio do programa ESTAT, pelo teste de média de Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade. A silagem de planta inteira teve o maior consumo de combustível por área. A secagem dos grãos de 15,5% para 13% foi responsável por 87% do gasto de energia por área. A silagem de "grão úmido" demandou o menor uso de energia por área nas operações mecanizadas.

This work aims to evaluate the energy consumption of the mechanized operations involved in the silage production of entire plant and silage of humid maize, having as reference the dry processing of this cereal. The experiment was on Lageado Experimental Farm of the Agronomy School, and the Education Research and Production Farm, of the Veterinary School of - UNESP - São Paulo State University - Botucatu Campus. The experiment design was in randomized blocks with parts subdivided in time (three times of harvest: silage of entire plant, silage of humid grains and harvest of dry grains), with 10 repetitions. The statistical analyses were performed with ESTAT software, and Tukey test at 5% of probability. The highest fuel consumption per area was reported for the ensilage of entire plant. The highest energy demand per area was reported for the processing of dry grain, as drying is responsible for 87% of the energy expense. The ensilage of humid grain demanded the lesser use of energy per area in the mechanized operations.