Rio Grande do Sul is the largest rice producer in the country, with a large area under the flood irrigation system. This important crop uses, in RS alone, an area of over 900 thousand hectares, with a huge fleet of machinery, intensively using agricultural tractors. In this context, we went to the region of Dom Pedrito, RS, to test the LS H125 tractor.
Before going to the field, we visited the LS Tractor dealership for the region and learned about the specifics of an LS dealership and customer service procedures, with extensive information presented by the LS Tractor product marketing manager, Astor Kilpp.
This tractor model was developed for the Brazilian market and agriculture and has a two-year factory warranty and the possibility of acquisition by the producer through financing through Finame Moderfrota or even through Consócio LS Tractor.
Launched during the 2019 Agrishow, the LS Tractor H series is one of the brand's most powerful tractors. There are two models, the H125, which we tested, and the H145, the largest in LS Tractor's offering in Brazil. Both are fully assembled at the Garuva (SC) factory, but the transmission and hydraulic system are Korean technology. The hood is retractable, facilitating access to engine components that require periodic and corrective maintenance.
The LS Tractor H125 model is equipped with the well-known Perkins engine, model 1104D-44TA, four cylinders, 4.400 cm³, with four valves per cylinder, air supply by turbocharger with aftercooler, electronic fuel injection system, which produces 131 hp of maximum power at 2.200 rpm and a maximum torque of 516 Nm at 1.400 rpm, expressed by the ISO TR 14.396 Standard.
This engine has been extensively developed in recent years and complies with the Proconve MAR1 pollutant emission reduction regulations, and Tier 3 equivalence. The clutch is hydraulically actuated and uses a 350 mm diameter ceramic metal disc. The torque and power transmission is from the LS brand and can be the Synchro Shuttle, synchronized with 12 forward and reverse gears, with a mechanical inverter, in the standard version and the optional Power Shuttle with an electro-hydraulic inverter, which provides the same number of forward and reverse gears. There are 24 gears staggered in three groups of four gears each, varying speeds from 1,75 to 35,85 km/h. Our test tractor uses this optional and was very well evaluated by the operator.
In addition to the Power Shuttle transmission, the H125 model is equipped with a super-reducer (Creeper), designed to meet the demand for very low speeds. There are 16 more gears starting at 0,22 km/h and reaching 1,74 km/h. These slow operations are very important in irrigated rice cultivation, such as when opening deep drains, which is an operation carried out at low speeds and with a high demand for power and torque.
The hydraulic system, driven by a gear pump, has a total flow rate of 112 liters per minute and a pressure of 185 bar. It has a category II three-point configuration, which provides a lifting capacity of 4,7 kgf at the ball joint, with the option of increasing it to 6,6 kgf. The remote control of implements driven by hydraulic cylinders is of the independent type and in the standard version offers three valves, four as an option, a flow rate of 80 liters per minute, with the option of increasing it to 120 liters per minute and a pressure of 18,5 MPa.
Other features
The Power Take-Off (PTO) is of the independent type, with two standard speeds, the traditional one of 540 rpm and the more recent one, suitable for a tractor with the power of the H125, of 1.000 rpm. The front axle is driven (TDA) with electro-hydraulic actuation. The rear axle uses an epicyclic type final reduction, with electro-hydraulic actuation of the differential lock, by a switch located on the instrument panel.
Although our test tractor had 14.9x28R2 front wheels and 23.1x30R2 rear wheels, there is a wide range of wheels available for customers to choose from, with four pairs of R1 gripper configuration and two of R2, mainly aimed at irrigated systems that require a higher gripper and a wider profile. We measured the kinematic advance with this pair of tires and found that it is quite suitable for the type of application and weight distribution with the ballast that had been installed. At the time of the test, the tractor had 16 front weights of 40 kg plus 110 from the support, at the front of the tractor, and three discs attached to each of the rear wheels.
As was the case the first time we tested an LS Tractor H series tractor, the cabin was rated very well, mainly due to its ease of access and large glass area. Preferred access is on the left side of the tractor, with a three-step ladder with handrails that make climbing easier. However, the design also includes a ladder on the right side, with a normal door opening, but more difficult to access due to the presence of the side console.
The adjustable steering column houses a small digital panel, which provides information about the engine's operation. To the left of the column is the small hydraulic reverser lever, which can be operated with just one finger and has three positions: neutral, forward and reverse.
The upper part of the cabin has a sunroof that opens and can be covered by a curtain that closes and protects against the sun. Also to reduce the incidence of sunlight, the manufacturer designed a sunshade-type protection on the windshield, which can be adjusted in height. The air conditioning, which was quite effective, protected us from the extreme heat on the day of the test.
The main seat has mechanical cushioning, but as an option the customer can request a high-end pneumatic seat. On the left side of the operator there is a small passenger seat, which can be folded against the cabin wall, to facilitate the operator's entry and exit.
A console on the left side of the main seat houses the lever controls and switches. On the console are the VCR hydraulic system control, the throttle control lever and the three-point hydraulic system raise and lower lever. Slightly forward of this console is the gearshift lever.
Three technologies are worth highlighting in this LS Tractor model. The first is the Cruise Control system, a system that allows the user to control the tractor's working speed. With this technology activated, it is possible to optimize the tractor's efficiency, adjusting the engine torque and maintaining the rotation and operating speed. The end result is fuel savings of over 15%, when compared to work without using the system.
The second important technology is telemetry and cruise control, important options developed for this model. The telemetry used by the LS is from the Argentine manufacturer Colven, which developed the Gestya system. With this system, it is possible to access information such as vehicle positioning, instantaneous speed, hours the tractor was on, productive hours, PTO rpm and possible engine problems.
Finally, we still have to highlight the Vigia system, which is an electronic protection, because in addition to informing the engine temperature, oil pressure and battery voltage, it also issues alerts and automatically turns off the engine when there is a loss of oil pressure and excessive temperature.
There are several irrigated rice production systems, including the conventional one, which consists of maintaining a layer of water by means of earthen structures or barriers cutting the slope of the land. These barriers can be called taipas or marachas, depending on the region. Our test consisted of monitoring two very important operations in the irrigated rice production process: the construction of these taipas and subsequent sowing.
In the form of contour lines, these structures contain water, forming a reservoir between them. They are spaced apart from each other depending on the slope of the terrain, so that the steeper the slope, the closer the rammed earth walls will be; and the further apart, the flatter the terrain.
These structures are made using an implement called a rammer, which consists of a section of ten grid-shaped discs, acting as a terracing machine. Connected to the tractor's three-point hydraulic system, it cuts the soil and gathers it in the center of these two disc sections. At the rear of the implement, a metal roller in the shape of a spool compacts the soil, giving the structure its final shape.
The Böck family uses a technique where a tractor pulls a corrugator that does the initial assembly, and then another machine pulled by a second tractor reassembles and gives the finishing touch, consolidating the structure. Of the two H125 tractors used in the test, one was from the farm's fleet and the other was a demonstration tractor from the manufacturer. The two corrugator machines we used were from the Boelter brand.
The operation involves laying one line of earth at a time, however, every time it encounters a perpendicular earthwork, the tractor must stop, raise the earthworks machine and start again. This makes it a complex operation, as the operator must stop the machine, raise the implement, cross the perpendicular earthworks and, after passing it, reverse and lower the implement again to resume the work. This requires several skills from the operator and, above all, positive characteristics of the tractor. The LS H125 demonstrated its quality in the speed with which it provides all these commands, such as reverse gear with the hydraulic inverter, the rapid reaction of the hydraulic system when lifting the equipment and the engine power to react to the start when starting up again. It is worth noting that, in addition to the power used to lift the soil and gather it in the center of the earthworks, there is also a metal reel filled with water to finish the structure.
This operation is done using the foot accelerator, as it is impossible to do it with the hand accelerator and the fixed rotation, using the second gear of the intermediate group, at approximately 6 km/h, on average.
At the end of the operation, there remains an earthen structure with an average height of 30 cm, a ridge width of 1,2 meters, but the total amount of soil mobilization reaches two meters, including the ravines, which is the ground moved to provide soil for the structure. The proximity of the rammed earth varies depending on the slope, but with the slope we were working on it varied between three and four meters from each other.
After the earthworks are built, while the soil is still dry, the rice is sown. As the soil is quite undulating due to the proximity of the earthworks, it is necessary to cross the soil in a perpendicular direction, making it a very demanding task for the tractor and the Kuhn planter, model Oriza 32, which, in the case of this producer, only uses seed in this operation, fertilizing separately.
During the field test, we analyzed each feature of the H125. It has a battery installed in front of three radiators, one for engine cooling, one for the intercooler and the third for the cabin air conditioning. However, the air filter, which is a frequently maintained piece of equipment, was placed on top of the engine, making it difficult to access.
The exhaust pipe is well protected and high, which directs emissions away from the cabin inlet. A semi-frame has been fitted at the front, which allows the installation of a front blade.
Speaking with the operator Rudinei, he told us that he has only been with the company for a few months, but has extensive experience as a machine operator, with different production systems and tractor brands and models. For him, the positive points of the H125 are mainly the engine with a lot of torque, but very quiet, easy to operate. The ease of operation of the Power Shuttle transmission, which greatly facilitates operation, was also praised, as well as the cabin, which he considers excellent and the interior space, compared to the experience with the tractors he worked with previously. But for him, the big difference is the autonomy, since they are refueling every two days of work. Also, with regard to maintenance, the dust separator plate, placed on the radiator assembly, which makes cleaning them easier, was mentioned. In our opinion, the interior finish of the cabin could be improved, especially the passenger seat.
But there were many positive points to highlight, mainly the engine that proved to be very strong for work with the foot accelerator, the ease of operation with the gearbox under load, which does not require the clutch to change gears and direction, the Vigia system that provides safety for work in harsh conditions of demand and temperature, as in the case of our test, the excellent viewing area in the operator's position, with the exhaust pipe hidden behind the column, the LED lighting, with projector, the comfort of the cabin that absorbs vibrations well with the four cushions.
To conduct the field test, we went to the Böck family farm, Agropecuária Böck, in the town of Passo Fundo, in the municipality of Dom Pedrito, in Rio Grande do Sul, approximately 30 km from the city center. There we were welcomed by the entire family, Mr. Adriano, Mrs. Jupira and their sons Guilherme and Leonardo.
We were told that Mr. Adriano's parents settled in Dom Pedrito, coming from the central region of the state in 1972, and grew economically through agriculture, working in agriculture and livestock.
They currently manage an area of approximately 9 hectares. Of these, 1,1 are rice and the rest are soybeans and livestock, maintained by the work of the family and employees. The property uses more than 30 tractors and has two headquarters within the area.
The tractors in the fleet have different brands and periods of use, but the most recent is the LS H125, which currently has 700 hours of use. It was purchased last season and there is the intention of purchasing at least one more, as it fits perfectly within the expectation of carrying out some intermediate operations.
For the family, the LS H125 is the ideal tractor for complementary operations in irrigated rice production, mainly due to its powerful engine, efficient transmission, easy operation and especially the inverter, which greatly facilitates operations involving large movements. But the factors that are really most impressive are the fuel economy and the lack of need for corrective maintenance.
Also check out the complete H125 Technical Data Sheet here!
Casa do Produtor is an agricultural products store that has been in business for ten years and has been an LS Tractor dealership for nine years. It began as a reseller of agricultural parts and supplies and a maintenance workshop, focused on minor repairs of multi-brand agricultural machinery. Today, in addition to LS Tractor, it also represents other brands of implements. The dealership has spare parts for the LS brand and its own workshop, in accordance with the standards required by LS Tractor. Although the workshop performs general maintenance services, the heavier repair work on machinery and implements, such as tractors, harvesters, sprayers and seeders, most of the services are periodic maintenance, carried out directly on the farm, avoiding the need to move the machinery.
The day-to-day running of the dealership is managed by the general manager of Casa do Produtor, Daniel Torres de Oliveira, who has worked in the machinery business for many years, becoming sales director at a dealership for a major brand in the city of Dom Pedrito. Now that he has been running Casa do Produtor for a year, he has achieved very promising goals, taking advantage of his knowledge of the region and experience. He describes LS Tractor as a brand that pays close attention to dealers and is very approachable, always welcoming suggestions for improving its products, that is, listening to the end consumer. He also mentioned the growth of the brand that takes advantage of the quality of the product, which is becoming known and compared with the traditional brands in the region.
The H125 model is LS's main product in the region, mainly because it meets the needs of rice farmers. The client, who is mainly a rice producer, often grows soybeans as a business opportunity, but rotates crops to take advantage of the residual effect of the inputs applied. In the region, after several phases and the use of different technologies, rice producers are now smoothing the land rather than completely regularizing it, seeking nearly flat irrigation patterns.
Throughout the production process used, the tractors required for irrigated rice cultivation are in the range of 150 hp and above, for soil preparation operations, however, for certain operations, such as earthing, seeding and others, a tractor with power around 130 hp, such as the H125, is widely used.
Jose Fernando Schlosser,
John Pedro Gallina,
Angelo Rizzatti,
UFSM Agrotechnology Laboratory
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