SOIL COMPACTION, MACHINERY SELECTION, AND OPTIMUM CROP PLANNING

Previous studies on the economics of soil compaction have selected the optimum machinery complement on the basis of cost minimization. In this study the revenue side of the machinery is also considered. Linear programming models are developed to maximize net farm income considering the yield loss implications of different tractor sizes, farm sizes, and weather conditions. The results indicate that grain corn cultivated conventionally is the best system for the three weather patterns: wet, dry, and average. The optimum tractor size is 140 kW for a wet year and 60 kW for a dry year and 100 kW an average year. The impact and implications on the optimum net farm income of two other cultural practices, reduced tillage and crop rotation, are also analyzed in this study.