Manufacturing of Machine for Planting on Wide Ridges Without Tillage in Desert Soils

This research was conducted during three winter seasons (2015-2016), (2016-2017) and (2017-2018) at Ras Sudr Research Station, South of Sinai Governorate, this region suffers from the problems of increasing salinity in soil and irrigation water, in addition to the high level of ground water. Therefore, the cultivation on wide ridges (raised-bed soil) was used for good soil leaching by storing large quantities of irrigation water in these wide ridges and easy drainage it from both sides of the ridges to the adjacent furrows. The wide ridges are considered one of the methods of remedy the rise in ground water level by raising the agricultural soil to a higher level, which helps to move the roots of plants away from the ground water level and to drain the irrigation water through the ridges sides to the adjacent furrows, which does not cause an increase in the ground water level. Also, conservation tillage (no-tillage) reducing the effect of salinity. So that a prototype of combined machine was manufactured which consisted of two units, the first unit to build ridges with the possibility to change the both of width and height of ridges. The second unit to sow wheat seeds on the ridges. The research treatments consisted of two tillage systems (traditional tillage system (TT) and conservation tillage system (CT) i.e., no-tillage), three ridge widths (50cm, 70cm and 90cm) and four ridge heights (0cm, 20cm, 35cm and 50 cm) where, the treatment of (0cm) was indicated to control treatment (flat soil). Also, the effect of three agriculture seasons was studied. Some parameters were measured or estimated as the following; actual field capacity (AFC), field efficiency (FE)), energy requirements (ER), pulling force (PF), fuel consumption rate (FCR), bulk density (BD), average infiltration rate (AIR), soil salinity (SS), water stored in the effective root zone (WS), water consumptive use in root zone (WC), water application efficiency (WA), wheat grain yield (WGY), water productivity (WP) and specific cost of production (SC). When using (CT) system and the largest cross section area of the ridges (90cm width x 50cm height) with continued application of this system for three consecutive seasons achieved the highest values of: (AFC=0.39 ha/h), (FE=93%), (WS=5773 m 3 /ha), (WC=4834 m 3 /ha), (WA=89%), (WGY=8.7 Mg/ha) and (WP=1.8 Mg/m 3 ), in addition this treatment achieved the lowest values for both (SS=6.17 ds/m) and (SC=216 L.E/Mg) compared to the other treatments.


Introduction
Raised-bed (wide ridge) defines by is a soil raised above the surrounding ground level (approximately 15-50cm height) in which the soil is formed in (70-120cm wide) beds, which can be of any length or shape. The desired outcomes from this management are to: drain, aerate, prevent water logging, increase root growth, thereby reinforce the loose structure, increase soil organic matter, increase plant water use, reduce deep drainage and increase production [1]. Advantages of raised bed planting for wheat crop. The raised bed planting in wheat crop saved (50% seed and 30-40% water), increased yield, reduced lodging, facilitated mechanical weeding, offered opportunity for a last irrigation at grain filling stage of wheat, avoided temporary water logging problem and reduced N loses [2].
The benefit of raised bed planting system with furrow irrigation compared with conventional flat planting and found that the raised bed minimizes water requirements (water saving about 30%) and provide better drainage conditions. Raised bed planting system also provides opportunities for the precise application of fertilizers and hence minimized environmental hazards. The present economic recession has seriously threatened the farmer globally by raising inputs prices like hybrid seed, fertilizers, weedicides, pesticides and diesel for machinery. In these perspectives, the raised bed planting technique is gaining momentum for saving inputs and economic cost for wheat cultivation. It also eliminated the formation of crust on soil surface [3]. Raised bed planting system promotes crop intensification and diversification besides saving irrigation water. In raised bed system, saves 30-40% water as compared to conventional flood irrigation practice. Benefits of raised bed system also include (i) fewer weeds, (ii) facilitates seeding into relatively dry soils (iii) vigorous and better crop stands, (iv) savings of costly seed (v) reduced crop-lodging, seed and fertilizer contact (vi) better drainage, improved rainwater conservation and crop productivity and (vii) minimizes wilt infestation in crops like pigeon pea and avoids temporary water logging problems [4].
Bread wheat is the most widely grown and consumed food crop and is the staple food for 35% of the world population. Wheat is considered one of the most important and strategically crops in Egypt, but its area produced only about 30% of the domestic needs [5]. Yield has been increased up to 8% because plant receives more sunlight and energy on raised beds [6]. Raised bed system increasing crop yield because imparting higher nitrogen use efficiency and reducing lodging over condensational tillage sowing system [7]. The vegetables planting on the raised beds in the ridge furrow system achieves better growth conditions as, it realizes low levels of ground water and height infiltration. The optimum dimensions of bed profile width that achieve the maximum productivity [8]. The farmers get various products from wheat crop such as wheat straw which makes hay for animals, but wheat grain yield is the ultimate goal of the farmers, therefore, in many breeding and agronomic research programs the researchers mainly focused on achieving high wheat yield using various technologies including effects of different sowing methods [9]. Wheat planted on raised beds and furrow irrigation showed higher yield and water use efficiency than flat-planted wheat [10]. Ortega et al. Growing of crops on raised bed compared to a flat bed or conventional method could be stand and increased crop productivity [11]. The average root length, root spread and root weight of wheat plant extracted from the soil were higher in raised bed sowing as compared to conventional method [12]. The average grain yield of wheat increased by 5.5% in raised bed planting technique compared to conventional sowing [13]. Raised bed enhances fertilizer use efficiency due to efficient root system. This technique is not affordable by many smallholder farmers due to economic constraints as it involves the use of expensive heavy machinery [14]. Planting wheat on raised bed improved and efficient management of irrigation water; improved fertilizer use efficiency; better weed management; lower seed rate and better plant stands; better drainage and less lodging of wheat [15]. Weed infestation was reducing if wheat is planting on raised beds and improves soil fertility and structure, reduces soil erosion, water requirement and cons port several crops in complex relays or intercropping and rotation [16]. Wheat flat planting with flood irrigation leads to inferior water use efficiency and lower crop yield. This practice also results in greater crop lodging and enhanced frequency of crop diseases [17]. Raised bed planting systems, wheat crop sowed on the raised beds in ridge-furrow system. This system often considered more appropriate for growing high value crops that are more sensitive to temporary water logging stress. Moreover, that system of raised bed planting of crops may be particularly advantageous in areas where groundwater levels are falling and herbicide-resistant weeds are becoming a problem. Wheat yields improved by 10% with the proper variety, production costs can fall by 20 to 30%, and irrigation water requirements can be reduced up to 35% compared to conventional planting on the flat soil [18].
The lodging problem is less on raised bed [19]. When wheat is grown on flat field, flood irrigation creates a wet condition around roots that reduces the binding of soil to support the plant. However, use of raised bed technology not only saves irrigation water, but also prevents the wet soil surface around the roots to avoid lodging especially under windy conditions [20]. Wheat planting technique on raised bed improved mechanical weed control, water and fertilizer use efficiencies and proved as most economical. Also, water saving and easy drainage of excess water after irrigation [21]. The soil on the surface of the raised bed is drier, which is not favorable for weed growth [22]. Raised bed technology showed less lodging as compared to flat sowing as well as 11.2% increase in grain yield along with 40-50% saving in irrigation water. The experiment also revealed that the raised bed planting method may be less susceptible to adversities of climate change because it portrays better ability to plant roots anchorage on beds and ability to withstand water stress [23]. Raised beds are reportedly saving 25-30% irrigation water and increasing water use efficiency [24]. Raised-bed providing better opportunities to leach salts from the furrows. However, under saline conditions [25].
Conservation tillage defines as any tillage and planting system that leaves at least 30 percent of the soil surface covered by residue after planting Conservation tillage increased soil moisture and water use efficiency of winter wheat [27]. The application of conservation tillage shown to reduce production costs and increase farm income [28]. Conservation tillage generally improvements soil moisture, water use efficiency, crop yield and economic [29]. Raised bed with conservation tillage facility more optimum planting time by providing timelier field access because of better drainage, addition once the bed established that are new opportunities to reduce crop turnaround time by re-using the same field without tillage [30]. Crop residues with no-tillage are important natural resource in the stability of agricultural ecosystems. About 25% of N and P, 50% of S and 75% of K uptake by cereal crops can be retained in crop residues, making them valuable nutrient sources [31]. Crop residues with no-tillage has been identified as a promising management option to combat soil salinity, as it can decrease soil water evaporation, increase infiltration and regulate soil water and salt movement [32]. Raised-bed and conservation tillage help to reduce soil compaction by confining traffic to the furrows and to improve soil organic matter and physical characteristics owing to surface retention of residues [33]. There are several reports of saving irrigation water about (18% to 50%.) with similar or higher yields, for vegetable crops on raised beds with conservation tillage compared with conventional tillage crops [34]. The conservation tillage with raised bed planting system increased the wheat yield by 60% in long time with reduction in the cultivation cost by 24% compared with conventional system. Conservation-raised bed system improved water and fertilizer use efficiency by 20-25% and reduced the total production costs by nearly 30% [35].
Locally manufactured raised-bed machine developed for small-scale farms to improve water productivity in the Nile Delta of Egypt. He indicated that the developed machine has enabled the farmers to achieve remarkable results that include around 25% saving in applied water, around 50% reduction in seed rate, around 25% decrease in farming cost, around 30% increase in fertilizer use efficiency, and around 15-25% increase in crops yields [36].
Therefore, the objective of this study was to fabricate a prototype of machine for installing wide ridges (raised-bed soil) with different dimensions of cross sections area (width x height) and sowing wheat crop on its surface. In addition, evaluate of machine performance in terms of power requirements and operating costs. Moreover, evaluate the wheat crop sowing with raised-bed system compared to traditional system (flat soil) in terms of soil ability to retain moisture, improvement the water productivity, soil salinity and wheat crop productivity under two tillage systems (traditional and conservation)

Materials and Methods
This study was carried out at Ras-Sudr Research Station, South Sinai Governorate (latitude: 29° 37' 26'' N, longitude: 32° 42' 43'' E and the elevation from sea surface=36.2m), on calcareous sandy loam soil, which suffers from the problem of soil, and irrigation water salinity where, Salts in the soil-water solution decrease the amount of water available for plant uptake. Maintaining a higher soil-water content with more frequent irrigations relieves the effect of salt on plant moisture stress. A sandy loam is soil containing a high percentage of sand (Coarse sand 12.3% -Fine sand 58.7%), but having enough silt (19.7%) and clay (9.3%) to make it somewhat coherent. The field experiment was carried out in the winter season 2015 and continuance to winter season 2017 (three winter seasons) with an experimental area of about 2.5fed. which irrigated by drip irrigation system. Before the soil preparation directly, the average moisture content of soil surface layer (0-30cm) was determined and found to be 18% (d.b.). Some chemical properties of the soil and well irrigation water were measured where, (CaCO 3 46.1%), (O.M 0.43%), (pH 7.76 for soil and 7.89 for Irrigation water) and (E.C 10.5ds/m for soil and 4.8 ds/m for Irrigation water).

The Specifications of Fabricated Machine
The prototype of fabricated machine which was used in this study to build the ridges (raised-bed soil) and sowing the wheat seeds is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. It is a mounted machine hitched on the tractor using the three points hitching system. The machine components were manufactured locally at the workshop in Quesna city, Menufiya Governorate. The total weight, length, width and height of machine were about of 320Kg, 1600mm, 1450mm and 1350mm respectively. The machine consisted of the main following parts:

Frame
The frame of machine was manufactured from 10cm L shapes iron, with a length of 1300mm, and width of 350mm. It was provided with some special bearing equipping each of hitching system, seeds hopper, establishing raised-bed unit, seed metering mechanism, and transmission system.

Hitching System
A three points hitching system manufactured locally from 20mm thickness iron. The dimensions of that system are hitch pin diameter of 25mm, height of 600mm and lower hitch point spread of 650mm.

Seed Hopper
An individual hopper has a prism configuration with trapezoid face shape. It was made from iron sheet with a thickness of 2mm. The maximum capacity of that hopper is about 60Kg of wheat seed. It also considered that the inclination angels of the hopper sides kept at 45 degrees, which is more than repose angels of wheat seeds (26 degrees -29 degrees) according to Satti et al (2012) [37].

Unit of Establishing Ridges
This unit used for establishing the ridges in the shape and dimensions of section area required (width x height) in the study by heaping the soil which, previously plowed by traditional chisel plow 7 blades at two passes, 20cm tillage depth and 4 km/h forward speed then pressing the soil through the rear border box.

THE seed Metering Mechanism
The mechanism which picks up seeds from the seed box and delivers them into the seed tube is called seed metering mechanism. Seed metering mechanism in this seeder gear wheel types made of Teflon material. The feed wheel diameter of (10cm), thickness of (5cm). The seeder width consists of seven discs but in this study using four discs only to plant four rows on the raised bed of 90, 70 and 50cm with a space of 18, 14 and 10cm between rows respectively to ensure that the rate of sowing is equal. Each disc case has two holes the top is used as entry seed from the hopper to the disc cells, while the bottom hole is used as exit the seeds from the disc cells to the seeds planting tube and by consequently in the raised bed. The disc cells were equipped with the moving shaft in the iron case by means of a collecting unit.

Transmission System
It was designed to transmit the motion from the ground wheel (Dia. of 51.3cm) to the shaft of the feed disc through a sprocket gears to give equivalent rotation number related to the peripheral speed of the ground wheel.

The Methods of Change Dimensions of Ridge Cross Section Area (Height x Width) and Height of Soil Opener in Fabricated Machine
The methods of change cross section area of ridges and height of soil opener are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Specifications of Tractor
Specifications of tractor were illustrated in Table 1: Rear, mm -2200

Experimental Design
The experimental area was about of one hectare. This experiment was established as split-split plots in three replicates, divided into main plot involved two levels of tillage system (traditional and conservation). Each main plot includes sub-plots, which involved three level of ridge width (50, 70 and 90cm). Each sub-plot includes sub-sub plots, which involved four levels of the ridge height (20, 35 and 50cm, raised-bed) in addition zero height to represent control plot or flat soil, resulted in a total of 72 plots, each of 150m 2 . The previous experiment was carried out during three winter seasons where the wheat crop was planted. The first winter season began in 2015 with plowing the whole experiment by chisel plow 7blades (two passes at 20cm tillage depth) after that construction the wide ridges under different treatments of study and sowing four rows of wheat seeds on the top of each ridge by fabricated machine and laying three drip irrigation tubes on each ridge. The second winter season 2016 the experiment was divided into two pieces. The first piece was planted by four rows of wheat seeds on the surface of ridge directly without tillage. The second piece was plowed using the chisel plow 7blades (two passes at 20cm tillage depth), and reconstructed the wide ridges under different treatments of study and sowing four rows of wheat seeds on the top of each ridge by fabricated machine. The third winter season 2017 was carried out the same way as the previous second season.
Note that, the summer season was planted by sorghum crop and forward speed of tractor was 4 km/h for all treatments.

Irrigation System
Irrigation system in this study was drip irrigation. Three drip irrigation tubes were laying on each furrow as shown in Figures 6 and 7 which irrigates four rows of wheat crop.

Wheat Seeds and Planting Method
The wheat crop (Sakha 93) was planted in mid-November in three consecutive winter seasons, with a rate of 140 kg/ha by seeder unit in fabricated machine which consisted of seven rows for sowing crop seeds but in this study using four rows only to sow wheat seeds on the top of each ridge as shown in Figure 8 to sow the wheat seeds at the same rate for each ridge width (50, 70 and 90cm). The Figures 9 and 10 were showed the wheat crop in germination stage and late stage respectively.

Machine Performance Rate (Theoretical and Actual
Field Capacity and Field Efficiency) Theoretical and actual field capacity and field efficiency were calculated by using equations mentioned by kepner et al. (1978) [38].

Energy Requirements of Machine (i). Pulling Force
Pulling force was measured by hydraulic dynamometer, which was, coupled between the two tractors with the attaching machine to estimate its draught force. A considerable number of readings taken at a time interval 10 seconds to obtain an accurate average of draught force.

(ii). Fuel Consumption Rate
Fuel consumption per unit time was determined by measuring the volume of fuel consumed during operation time. It was measured using the fuel meter equipment as shown in Figure 11 the length of line which marked by the marker tool on the paper sheet represents the fuel consumption. The fuel meter was calibrated prior and the volume of fuel was determined accurately.

Some Soil Physical Properties (i). Soil Bulk Density
Soil bulk density was measured using a core methods as described by Black (1986) [39].

(ii). Average Infiltration Rate
Infiltration characteristics of the studied soil was determined in the field by using a local made double ring (cylinder infiltrometer). The two cylinders were 30 cm deep and formed of steel sheet of 5mm thickness which allow the cylinders to enter the soil with little disturbance. The inner cylinder, from which the infiltration measurements were taken, was 30 cm in diameter. The outer cylinder, which used to form the buffer pond was 60 cm in diameter. The double ring hammered into the soil to a depth of 15 cm. Care was taken to keep the installation depth of the cylinder to be the same in all experiments. Average infiltration rates calculated by Kostiakov equation (1932) [40]: Where: I=Average infiltration rate, (cm/h), c, m=Constants depend on soil properties and initial condition, and T=The time after infiltration started (min).

(iii). Soil Moisture Content and Soil Salinity
Moisture measurement (TDR 300 soil moisture meter) Soil salinity (Direct soil EC probe).

Crop Water Requirement
Water requirement calculated using the Reference Evapotranspiration (ET o ) and the Crop coefficients (K C ) by the following equation: Where: Etc=Crop Evapotranspiration (mm/day), ETo=Reference Evapotranspiration (mm/day) and Kc=Crop coefficients. Net irrigation requirement (IR n ) is derived from the field balance equation: Where: IR n =Net irrigation requirement (mm/day), ET c =Crop evapotranspiration (mm/day), P eff =Effective dependable rainfall (mm/day) and LR=Leaching requirement (mm).
Gross irrigation requirements account for losses of water incurred during conveyance and application to the field.
Where: IR g =Gross irrigation requirements (mm/day), IR n =Net irrigation requirement (mm/day) and E a =Overall irrigation efficiency (%). Therefore, the total water applied with leaching requirement (LR) for wheat crop under drip irrigation system=6463 m 3 /ha.

Irrigation Water Measurements (i). Water Stored in the Effective Root Zone
Water stored in the root zone was determined according to James (1988) [41] as follows: Where: WS=Water stored in the root zone, (mm), Ɵ fc =Soil moisture content at field capacity, (%), Ɵ wp =Soil moisture content at permanent wilting point, (%), D r =Effective root depth, (mm), ρ b =Soil bulk density, (g/cm 3 ) for depth and I=Number of soil layers (1-4).

(ii). Water Consumptive Use in Effective Root Zone
Water consumptive use by growing plants was calculated based on soil moisture depletion (SMD) according to Hansen et al. (1979) [42].

The Cost (i). Total Cost of Performing a Tillage Operation
Total hourly cost was determined according to EL-Awady (1978) [45] as follows:

(ii). Total Cost per Unit Area
Total cost per unit area was determined as follows: Where: TCA=Total cost per unit area, (L.E./ha), AFC=Actual field capacity, (ha/h) and C=Hourly cost, (L.E./h).

(iii). Specific Cost of Production
Specific cost of production was determined as follows: Where: SEC=Specific cost of production, (L.E/Mg), TCA=Total cost per unit area, (L.E/ha) and Y=grain yield, (Mg/ha).

Results and Discussion
The results in all study measurements showed that no significant effect of the tillage treatments in the first season, this is due to the use of the same traditional plowing method in the first season even before the implementation of the conservative tillage method to build the wide ridges, after that the results showed a significant effect of the tillage treatments in the following two seasons (second and third). Tables 3, 4 and Figures 12, 13 showed that increasing in performance of fabricated machine when using conservation tillage system (no-tillage, no-rebuilding ridges and directly sowing) compared to traditional tillage system (tillage two passes at 20cm depth, building ridges and sowing). The conservation tillage system achieved the average increasing percentage in actual field capacity and field efficiency, were about 49% and 10% respectively, compared to traditional tillage system. This result may be due to reduction in the number of machines using in conservation tillage system compared to traditional tillage system.

Actual Field Capacity and Field Efficiency
On other hand, the results showed that ridge width 90cm achieved the average increasing percentage in actual field capacity and field efficiency, were about of 79% and 10% respectively, compared to ridge width 50cm. This result may be to when increasing operation width of machine, the actual field capacity and field efficiency increased. However, when decreasing ridges height from 50cm to zero cm (flat soil) the actual field capacity and field efficiency increased by about 11% and 13% respectively. This can be explained by the fact that increasing the height of ridges, need more amount of soil to build it, which increases the working time.
The results indicated that, in general, increasing season's number increases the actual field capacity and field efficiency of the machine. So that the average increasing percentage in actual field capacity and field efficiency obtained with third season about 60% and 25% respectively, compared to the first season. Data showed that actual field capacity and field efficiency of machine increased about 6% and 8% respectively, when using flat soil system compared to wide ridge system (raised-bed soil).

Pulling Force and Fuel Consumption of Fabricated Machine
Pulling force and fuel consumption of fabricated machine as affected by study treatments were presented in Tables 5, 6 and Figures 14, 15. Reducing pulling force and fuel consumption of the machine is the objective to be achieved. In the tillage system treatment, the average decreasing percentage in pulling force and fuel consumption were about 52% and 53%, respectively, for conservation tillage compared to traditional tillage. The decreasing in pulling force and fuel consumption were obtained with conservation tillage may be attributed to that the operations of tillage and ridges construction in conservation tillage system were limited to the first season only. However, during the second and third seasons, sowing process on the ridges which, established previously was carried out only in the first season. So that in the first season two machines were used i.e. the chisel plow to tillage and fabricated machine to build ridges and sowing, but in the second and third seasons did not use the both of chisel plow and the unit of building ridges, but only the sowing unit in the fabricated machine was used.
Also, in the ridge width treatment, the average decreasing percentage in pulling force and fuel consumption were about 12% and 14%, respectively, for ridge width 50cm compared to ridge width 90cm. However, the treatment of ridge height zero cm (flat soil) achieved the highest decreasing percentage in pulling force and fuel consumption were about 40% and 37%, respectively, compared to 50cm ridge height. These results may be due to the fact that when increasing the ridges dimensions (width and height) this requires a large amount of soil to build it, which consumed more energy. The continuation of application wide ridges system during successive seasons led to decrease the machine energy consumption for two types of tillage systems. In the traditional tillage system, the average decreasing percentage of pulling force and fuel consumption in third season were about of 17% and 18%, respectively, compared to the first season. This can be attributed to the fact that the ridges which built in first season were more friable so that plowed these ridges in the second season to rebuild new, need less energy compared to plow the flat soil before first season where the soil is more cohesive.
In conservation tillage system, the average decreasing percentage in pulling force and fuel consumption in the third season, about of 86% and 88%, respectively, compared to the first season. This result may be attributed to that, in the conservation tillage system the flat soil was plowed in the first season only to build ridges then built ridges and sowing it but in the second and third seasons carried out one operation i.e. sowing on the previous ridges, which established in the first season (without tillage). So that in conservation tillage system, at the first season using chisel plow and both of two units of fabricated machine but at the second and third seasons using sowing unit only therefore, energy requirements in the third season lower than the first season in conservation tillage system.
Generally, in conservation tillage system, the reduction of energy consumption was higher than traditional tillage system, because conservation tillage system using sowing unit only of fabricated machine without tillage but in the traditional tillage system using chisel plow to tillage and both of two unit of fabricated machine to build ridges and sowing.
The results showed that pulling force and fuel consumption rate of machine decreased about 35% and 31% respectively, when using flat soil system compared to wide ridge system (raised-bed soil).

Soil Bulk Density, Average Infiltration Rate and Soil Salinity
The data presented in Table 7 and Figure 16 indicated that the soil bulk density decreased about 14% in the traditional tillage system compared to the conservation tillage system.
The results showed that increasing the dimensions of ridge cross section area (width and height) decreased the soil bulk density. Increasing ridge width from 50 cm to 90 cm and the ridge height from 20 cm to 50 cm led to decrease in soil bulk density about 6% and 7% respectively. This result may be attributed to that reduce the dimensions of ridges cross section area caused increasing the pressure force of machine on the soil during ridge construction process, therefore soil bulk density increased.
In general, when the number of seasons increased, the soil bulk density decreased. Soil bulk density decreased about 8% in the third season compared to the first season. This result may be attributed to that sustainable of the conservation tillage system reduced soil bulk density of the ridges due to increase dissolution of the previous crop residues by microorganism's activity in the soil and soil moisture content, which increases soil aggregate.
Results in Table 7 and Figure 17 cleared that average infiltration rate increased in traditional tillage system about of 43% compared to conservation tillage system. Increasing both of ridges width from 50cm to 90cm and ridges height from 20cm to 50cm caused increasing average infiltration rate about 12% and 13% respectively. At the third season, average infiltration rate increased about 21% compared to the first season.
Results in Table 8 and Figure 18 showed that a significant effect of study treatments on soil salinity. Soil salinity decreased with ridge wide 90cm, ridge height 50cm, conservation tillage system and third season about 2%, 18%, 7% and 7% respectively, compared to ridge width 50cm, ridge height 0cm (flat soil), traditional tillage system and first season. These results may be the fact that when cross section of ridges (width x height) increases the size of ridges increases subsequently, water stored in ridges increased with easy drainage of irrigation water from the ridge to the furrows which caused leaching saline from soil, in addition conservation tillage (no-tillage) which causes covered of the soil surface by the residues of previous crops, which increases soil moisture retention and decreases the level of soil salinity.
The results showed that soil salinity decreased about 13% when using wide ridge system (raised-bed soil) system compared to flat soil. This result may be the fact that in raised-bed system the soil ability of stored water increases and easy drainage this water to adjacent furrows so that soil salinity decreased.

Water Stored in the Effective Root Zone and Water Consumption Use in Root Zone
The data in Table 9 and Figures 19 and 20 proved that water stored in the effective root zone (WS) and water consumption use in root zone (WCU) increased in conservation tillage system about 8% and 8% respectively, compared to traditional tillage system. These results may be explained that the conservation tillage system, plant residues on the soil surface reduced irrigation water evaporation.
Results indicated to, when ridges width increased from 50cm to 90cm the (WS) and (WCU) increased about 12% and 18% respectively, also increasing in ridges height from zero cm (flat soil) to 50cm the (WS) and (WCU) increased about 36% and 49% respectively. In general, the sequence of season led to an increasing in (WS) and (WCU) about of 9% and 14% respectively, in the third season compared to the first season.
Results showed that the (WS) and (WCU) increased about 27% and 36% respectively, when using raised-bed system compared to flat soil.    Tables 10, 11 and Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 illustrated that wheat grain yield, water productivity and water application efficiency increased in conservation tillage system about 19%, 10% and 8% respectively, compared to traditional tillage system. However, the specific cost of production decreased with conservation tillage system about 39% compared to traditional tillage system. The data indicated that increasing ridge width from 50cm to 90cm the wheat grain yield, water productivity and water application efficiency increased about 32%, 12% and 12% respectively and decreased specific cost of production about 52%.

Wheat Grain Yield, Water Productivity, Water Application Efficiency and Specific Cost of Production
Also increasing ridge height from 0cm (flat soil) to 50cm the wheat grain yield, water productivity and water application efficiency increased about 92%, 28% and 36% respectively and decreased specific cost of production about of 29%.
The data showed that third season achieved average increasing percentage in wheat grain yield, water productivity and water application efficiency about 26%, 10% and 9% respectively, and average decreasing percentage in specific cost of production about 40% compared to the first season.
Results showed that the wheat grain yield, water productivity and water application efficiency increased about 66%, 19% and 27% respectively, and decreased specific cost of production about of 24% when using raised-bed system compared to flat soil. Values accompanied by the same letter in each row are not significantly different (P>0.05) using Duncan's multiple range test.

Figure 22.
Effect of study treatments (T-traditional tillage, C-conservation tillage, W-ridge width at three levels (90cm, 70cm and 50cm) and H-ridge height at three levels (50cm, 35cm, 20cm and 0cm)) on water productivity. Bars represent SEs, (P>0.05). Table 11. Effect of study treatments on water application efficiency and specific cost of production

Conclusion
The most important results of the study can be summarized in the following points: 1. The prototype of machine was successful in implementing the cultivation method of wide ridges (raised-bed soil) under traditional and conservation tillage systems. 2. The highest average increasing percentages in the actual field capacity and field efficiency of the machine were achieved at the ridge width 90 cm, ridge height 0cm (flat soil), conservation tillage system and the third season of field experiment application, were about (79%, 11%, 49% and 60%) and (10%, 13%, 10% and 25%) respectively, compared to the ridge width 50 cm, ridge height 50cm, traditional tillage system and the first season. 3. The highest average decreasing percentages in the pulling force and fuel consumption rate were achieved at the ridge width 50 cm, ridge height 0cm (flat soil), conservation tillage system and the third season of field experiment application, were about (3%, 40%, 52% and