Energy Savings in Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

and summary.- 1 General considerations.- 1.1 Farming structure and mechanisation.- 1.2 Energy consumption.- 1.3 The agricultural machines and tractor industry.- 1.4 Potential energy saving in field mechanisation.- 2 Operational schemes and energy requirements for the different crops.- 2.1 Cereals.- 2.1.1 Faming techniques.- 2.1.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.2 Forages.- 2.2.1 Farming techniques.- 2.2.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.3 Sugar beet.- 2.3.1 Farming techniques.- 2.3.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.4 Potatoes.- 2.4.1 Farming techniques.- 2.4.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.5 Oil seed crops.- 2.5.1 Farming techniques.- 2.5.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.6 Vineyards.- 2.6.1 Farming techniques.- 2.6.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.7 Fruit and citrus tree crops.- 2.7.1 Farming techniques.- 2.7.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.8 Olive trees.- 2.8.1 Farming techniques.- 2.8.2 Energy consumptions.- 2.9 Energy consumptions for handling in farming activities.- 2.10 Conclusions.- 3 Tractors and agricultural machines manufacturing: Evolution and energy saving perspectives.- 3.1 Tractors and other agricultural vehicles.- 3.1.1 Engines.- 3.1.2 Tyres.- 3.1.3 Electronic control devices.- 3.1.4 Tractor architecture.- 3.1.5 Fuel oil replacement.- 3.1.6 Operative conclusions.- 3.2 Primary and secondary tillage machines.- 3.2.1 Ploughs.- 3.2.2 Rotary hoes and spading machines.- 3.2.3 Secondary tillage.- 3.2.4 Operative conclusions.- 3.3 Auxiliary machines for crop cultivation.- 3.3.1 Machines for fertilizers distribution.- 3.3.2 Pesticides and herbicides spreaders — Alternative solutions.- 3.3.3 Transplantation and seeding machines.- 3.3.4 Operative conclusions.- 3.4 Harvesting machines.- 3.4.1 Grains harvesters (cereal kernels, oil-seeds, leguminosae, etc).- 3.4.2 Forage harvesters.- 3.4.3 Sugar-beets harvesters.- 3.4.4 Potatoes harvesters.- 3.4.5 Fruit harvesters.- 3.4.6 Grapes harvesters.- 3.4.7 Olive harvesters.- 3.4.8 Operative conclusions.- 4 Tractors and agricultural machines management — Evolution and energy saving perspectives.- 4.1 Present operating conditions of the machines.- 4.2 Operative conclusions.- 5 Actions to develop and their impact.- 5.1 Summary of the situation and obtainable benefits.- 5.2 Actions to be continued.- 5.2.1 Interventions in the primary, sector.- 5.2.2 Interventions in the industrial sector.- 5.2.3 Operative conclusions.- 6 Cost/benefit analysis and conclusions.- 6.1 Preliminary cost/benefit analysis.- 6.2 Conclusions.- 7 Main references.- 7.1 National energy balance and energy saving in general.- 7.2 Crops and agricultural practices energy requirements.- 7.3 Energy saving through a more appropriate use of agricultural machines.- 7.4 Energy saving due to product and process innovations.- 8 Research institutes involved in energy saving in mechanisation.- 9 National manufacturers associations.