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Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations
Published on: September 11, 2016
Prediction of precise subsoiling based on analytical method, discrete element simulation and experimental data from
Nelson Richard Makange1,2, Changying Ji3, Innocent Nyalala1
1College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210031, China.
Abstract:
Prediction of a precise subsoiling using an analytical model (AM) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) was conducted to explain cutting forces and the soil profile induced changes by a subsoiler. Although sensors, AMs and DEM exist, there are still cases of soil structure deformation during deep tillage. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a clear understanding of the deep tillage using prediction models. Experimental data obtained in the soil bin trolley with force sensors were used for verification of the models. Experiments were designed using Taguchi method. In the AM, the modified-McKyes and Willat and Willis equations were used to determine cutting forces and soil furrow profile respectively. Calculations were done using MATLAB software. The elastoplastic behavior of soil was incorporated into the DEM. The DEM predicted results with the best regression of 0.984 [Formula: see text] at a [Formula: see text] of 1.936 while the AM had the lowest [Formula: see text] of 0.957, at a [Formula: see text] of 6.008. All regression results were obtained at p < 0.05. The ANOVA test showed that the p-values for the horizontal and vertical forces were 0.9396 and 0.9696, respectively. The DEM predicted better than the AM. DEM is easy to use and is effective in developing models for precision subsoiling.

