All You Need to Know About Tractor Horsepower

The power of a tractor is cached in the level of horsepower it is built with. This power may differ according to the farmer needs and hence it isn't a single constant measure for all tractors.

This makes it important to understand the basic and essential facts about horsepower which we have attempted to discuss in detail in this article. As tractors are primarily used for farming, this article's approach would be considering the farm tractors in particular.

What is Horsepower?

Horsepower is the power that an engine generates to operate various functions efficiently. 

When it comes to tractors, the energy or power needed to perform various farm operations like planting, sowing, harvesting, tilling, etc, with consistent efficiency is produced by the engine's horsepower. 

The tractor has two types of horsepower:

Engine horsepower

It indicates the power produced by the engine

Power-take-off (PTO) horsepower

Indicates the quantity of power available to run the machine operations.

Though there are variations such as the metric horsepower, which is about 10 watts less in general according to modern standards, one horsepower = 746 watts of power

The horsepower rating of a given tractor usually refers to the "engine horsepower," which is separate from the horsepower offered by the power take-off, a number that is smaller than the rating for the engine; therefore, engine horsepower is a suitable measurement.

What is the calculation method of horsepower?

Horsepower is directly proportional to the RPM and torque; hence, the horsepower is calculated through the watt equation, including torque and RPM. The more the torque, more is the RPM, which ultimately produces high horsepower.

The formula is:

HP = torque x RPM ÷ 5252

Where "5252" is a common constant if the speed is in RPM and torque is ft-lbf.

Different horsepower’s and their significance

A range of different horsepower’s determine various other functions and play different roles in the farm accordingly.

15 to 20 HP range 

Horsepower in this range is usually designed according to a bare lawn or garden tractor. This range is sufficient for typical lawn-related tasks such as mowing the earth, pulling carts or small trailers full of debris or supplies, etc. The fuel consumption is less and is safe to handle for a small farm. 

These tractors are specially designed for Potato, Cotton, Paddy, Rice, Onion, Apple, Mango, cultivation.

25 to 35 HP range

A bigger step to the garden, this range is adequate for the subcompact or mini utility tractors. Their extra power organises for a front-end loader and a backhoe attachment. This is specifically for the small-scale field cultivation. These tractors have a PTO HP for the implements to work out.  Its spinning driveshaft enables tools like mowers, loaders, or backhoe to reach energy from the engine to run. Most tractors come with a standard rear-mounted PTO, but midpoint PTOs are also available with some models. This HP range is perfect for a small-scale field cultivation.

These tractors are ideal for crops like Paddy, Rice, Vegetables, Fruits like Mango, Chickko, Oranges, Watermelon, Grapes cultivation.  

40 to 50 HP range

This range fills the space between compact utility tractors and regular utility tractors. It is a bigger step than compact tractors with an extra capability to improve the increased number of farming functions compared to the earlier two. This tractor is perfect choice for an occasional farmer or anyone who is willing to work with a slow speed and perform the functions on small levels.

Functions such as ploughing fields and baling small square hay bales are possible with this horsepower range. It is best suited for challenging conditions like working in clay soil or pulling a wagon behind the hay baler. They are excellent with work efficiency in clay soil, or muddy terrain, and the superb tyre grip of the tractors efficiently manages the functions.

These tractors are great to work with bigger and commercial crops like Wheat, Maize, in addition to  Vegetables, Flowers, and Fruits  

60 to 90 HP range

This horsepower range better handles everything needed in a farm or regular farming on a large scale. The added power makes the tractor more stable on challenging jobs. Large farm ploughing, tilling, baling hay work with larger and wider implements faster than other tractors and are considered the more advanced technologically built machines for heavy loads of work in a field. These tractors' durability is very high and has a higher loading capacity, suitable for transportation.

The crops that are usually cultivated with this range of tractors are the bigger commercial crops like Sugarcane, Wheat, Jowar, Bajra, Cotton, etc.

100 to 150 HP range

As you may have guessed by now, yes, this range is incredibly the strongest and can perform most extreme levels of farming activities efficiently and can be used for a complete commercial level of farming. Of course, the tractors are a bit costlier as compared to the other range tractors.

They are perfect for heavy functions like forage harvesting, construction, and large-scale plantations. These tractors are capable of performing all the heavy tasks like harvesting, ploughing, tilling, transportation, etc.

Hence if buying this tractor doesn’t feel possible, you can always settle for the 60 to 90 HP range, which, may not be this advanced but is sufficient for a large farm and to perform the heavy functions like the 100 to 150 ranged horsepower.

To sum up, it's unnecessary to purchase a bigger tractor, instead you can choose the other smaller tractors depending on your needs.

How to decide which HP range is suitable for you?

As we have seen, a horsepower of a tractor indicates its engine's work potential; it becomes utmost importance to look out when you are buying any tractor.

Selecting the correct horsepower depends on the size of land and farm applications.

For a small land, you need a low horsepower tractor, whereas you can choose a large horsepower tractor for large land and to work with heavy farm applications. 

So, which HP tractor is best for your farm? Comment below 

Significance of small farm tractors in Indian farming

Small farms are extremely vital for our economy and the well-being of our nation. Their support for the competitiveness and sustainability of rural economies is unavoidable. They protect and enhance natural resources in the environment, provide a nursery for developing new enterprises and marketing systems and maintain rural populations in India.

We will be looking at the overall concept of small farms, their statistics, and small farm tractors' importance. 

Let's begin…

Types of Farms

In India, you will find almost every type of lands, farms, and farm holders. Farms are usually classified into different types based on their sizes and landholdings.

Here is a list of different types of farm sizes in India.

• Marginal farms are the ones with a land size of below 1.00 hectare.
• Small farms are the ones with a land size of 1.00-2.00 hectare.
• Semi-medium farms are the ones with a land size of 2.00-4.00 hectare. 
• Medium farms are the ones with a land size of 4.00-10.00 hectare.
• Large farms are the ones with a land size of 10.00 hectare and above.

What Are the Small Farms?

In India, Small and marginal farms are those farms with less than 2 hectares of farmland. 

The farmers who either own these farms or work in these farms constitute about 86.2% of the country's total farmers as per the data available as of Feb 2021.

Such a large number of small and marginal farmers, approximately 12 million, are considered to be the backbone of the Indian agricultural economy.

Let's move on to understand the importance or significance of small farms.

What Type of Tractors Is Suitable for A Small Farm?

Obviously, a small to medium-sized tractor is the right choice for small farms. Larger tractors are excellent for large landholders with 15-20 acres or more, but for the small farm, a smaller machine is more versatile and can be used for tasks around the yard as well as out in the field.

Significance of Small Farm Tractor    

Small farm tractors are those in-between sub-compact tractors and mid-size tractors.

These tractors are offered in Cat-0 or Cat-1 hitches. It seems to be standard at this size, as does a three-cylinder diesel engine, which is good for functioning. 

All small tractors are compatible with reasonably robust bucket loaders. 

They are known to bridge the emissions gap, meaning many of these tractors offer horsepower ratings on either side of 27 hp, which is the cut-off for non-emissions-controlled engines. 

Emission systems on tractors are relatively a new technology and have yet to be proven in reliability and longevity. 

Small tractors sit in a precarious spot, bridging both the emissions gap and hitch categories, which means many small tractors will be a little too wide for a Cat-0 implement but underpowered for many Cat-1 tools. 

Many of these small farm tractors fit on a landscape trailer, making them easier to transport than their larger brethren. 

Because of their size, they also tend to be less intimidating to the beginner tractor owners. 

In India, small farm tractors range between 2.5L to 5L. These are the most reasonably affordable tractor range. These prices are compatible with both marginal and small farm owners.

Small tractors are a versatile breed of machines that take tools in the front, back and under their belly, pulling way more than their weight.

These are the tractors equipped with a 540-rpm PTO and a three-point hitch designed for various tools.

For very small holdings, two hectors or less, a suitable tractor is undoubtedly likely to be found in the 15kw to 25kw horsepower range. Generally speaking, a small machine should have between 45 HP and 75 HP.

These are the tractors that have the four-wheel drive (4WD). Modern technology has made 4WD drivetrains much more reliable and affordable. A 4WD is particularly useful in slippery ground conditions simply by providing that little bit of extra traction via the front wheels, which is often all that is required when rear-wheel traction starts to falter.

These tractors have a power steering feature, and it is well worth any extra cost.

A tractor three-point linkage is found at the rear of these tractors. 

These tractors have a hydraulic outlet, capable of powering a hydraulic cylinder if you intend to fit a front-end loader or an external hydraulic motor for its lifting capacity, speed of action, and ability to operate several hydraulic functions simultaneously. 

Different sizes of small tractors have different lifting capabilities. They can lift heavy loads of gravel, mulch, feed, hay, manure, etc. 

They are compact in size, with the general components of the tractors like wheelbase, wheel track, stature, weight, turning range, which is reasonable for the majority of the harvests like "cotton, lentil/beats, castor, grapes, groundnut, pomegranate, sugar stick. It tends to be altered to suit the necessity of each farmer, from marginal to small tractors. 

These small tractors have a short turning capacity because of their small size that permits the tractor to explore around deterrents without harm to the yield effortlessly. It is valuable for cultivation crops.

They are light in weight, and because of the lightweight, the soil isn't squeezed during any activity. Thus, it is exceptionally valuable in sandy soils or for within development.

These days, organizations offer less price small tractor and prudent tractors, which is why farmers want to purchase small tractors to fulfill their needs.

Summary

You can witness that while the initial investment in a small-farm tractor may be high for some farmers, they are the most durable ones.

If the small farm tractors are well maintained, they will easily last 30 years or more with minimal ongoing costs.

The cost of a small farm tractor is the most favored expense among the small farmer of India.

Small farm tractors are extremely beneficial for about 82% of farmers in India.

They are the most demanded tractors in India and thus are the most popular tractors in India.

You will have to keep in mind these tractors' critical features, like the horsepower, lifting capacity, cc, transmission, hydraulics, drives used, and emission systems, while purchasing one.

Why Do Tractors Have a Low HP Despite Having More CC

 

Cc is the engine capacity measured for every vehicle that works on an engine. Cc is measured in cubic centimeters while horsepower is measured in Kilowatt.

Horsepower is more important as it is used to signify the speed of a vehicle while cc is just used for indicating the physical dimension of the automobile engine.

So, now, tractor engines are expected to produce high torque at relatively low RPM's. In contrast to Cars, that need high HP for speed, Tractor engines generally don't care how big or heavy they are. Instead, they are built for heavy loads to work with.

Tractors are heavy vehicles; they need to pull a lot of resistance while working.

Hence power in the form of torque is needed in order to get more torque.

Rpm should be low, generally for tractors rpm for maximum torque is around 1500 and bhp is at 2250

Higher compression ratio is needed for the proper working of the engine.

More stroke length/stroke to bore ratio is greater than one of such engines are called under square engines.

Another reason is more piston and crank weight. The tractor system works with more torque and less power that is bhp.

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What are the Different Types of Tractors?

Tractors are built in different forms and types depending on their usability and utility and the purpose they are used for.

Here we have tried to list a few types of the tractors according to their functions and designs:

Utility Tractors

This is a multifunctioning tractor which helps the farmers who cannot afford different implements for different activities. The power ranges from 45-140 hp.

Row Crop Tractors

This tractor is specially designed for the farms where the plantations are in a row. But it can be useful for other functions that are performed by the regular tractors.

Orchard Type Tractors

This tractor is specially designed for the fruit/nut orchards and vineyards. Farmers can seat comfortably making picking high hanging fruits an easy job.

Industrial Tractor

As implied by the name, this tractor is primarily used for industrial purposes than the agricultural ones. They can pull heavy loads, lift weights and much more industry and machine friendly jobs.

Garden Tractor

These are the smaller 1-20 hp tractors that are mainly used for gardening works like making flower beds, cutting grass, land uniformity etc.

Rotary Tillers

These are used for the hilly areas where the fields are located un-uniformly at different height levels. These tractors have extra blades specially designed for the tough terrain.

Earth Moving Tractors 

These are tractors that are used in performing earth moving works like on dams, quarries etc. These come in the heavy category.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Tractor

Choosing the right tractor, according to your needs and according to your land may seem easy but is a tough call to make.

Of course, tractors aren’t something you invest again and again. It’s a onetime investment, hence, you should be 100% sure about its usage and other features before you make the purchase.

Here I have tried to compile a list of tips you might find beneficial for making the right decision.

The first thing you should be clear about is the purpose of the purchase. Like is it a gardening, tilling, ploughing, digging etc.

This way you can be sure of what design to choose and what type of tractor you should chose like will it be a compact tractor or a utility heavy machine.

Apart from this, you should always understand the basic features of the tractor, like, horsepower, torque, PTO, hydraulics, life capacity and utility.

You should also be attentive to the accessories and amenities it is offering, as buying these accessories or amenities separately might cost you a lot more than being attentive.

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