Soil Mechanical Systems and Related Farming Machinery

Abstract

The mechanization of agricultural works has greatly contributed to an improvement in agricultural productivity and a reduction in production costs. Since the beginning of mechanization, various kinds of agricultural machinery related to soil preparation, sowing, harvesting, post-harvesting, etc., have been developed. Moreover, customized agricultural machines that are suitable for the cultivation types and soil characteristics of each country and region have been developed. Agricultural machinery, unlike other industrial machinery, targets living organisms and operates on soil, so it should be designed with its interaction with soil in mind. It is possible to optimally design agricultural machinery by understanding both the characteristics of soil and the characteristics of the mechanical system. This Special Issue focused on research regarding soil–machine systems in agriculture, including design, analysis, experimentation, etc. In addition to soil-related research, agricultural machinery, and automation-related research, off-road environments and greenhouse or smart farm applications were covered.