Spatial distribution of soil forces on moldboard plough and draft requirement operated in silty-clay paddy field soil

•Spatial analysis showed maximum forces at share part of plough.•Mold faced least forces so can be replaced with lighter material to reduce draft.•Soil forces were shared from one to other points with change in speed and depth.•Forces were more increased with depth increment as compare to speed boost.•Draft force and soil forces exhibit almost similar trends under all treatments.

Spatial distribution of soil forces on the surface of plough is an important aspect that can help engineers for improving efficiency of tillage implement. It was analyzed at eleven different points of the moldboard plough with the help of sensors accompanied with the virtual instrument developed in LabView software with the aid of other supporting instruments. It was observed that soil forces increased with an increase in speed and depth. Depth changed soil forces more at upper parts than lower parts whereas speed affected rear parts more than the front part of the plough. Draft forces followed almost similar trend and least value of 308.17 N experimental draft force was found at 1 m/s speed and 5 cm depth under 33% moisture content. Cumulative soil forces found too smaller than the draft as they represented the force spatial distribution of specific parts of plough. It was observed that sensor technology provided real time picture of force variation during tillage process that could save time and effort.