trattori

A tractor, or trattore, is a motorized vehicle designed primarily for agricultural work. It provides a mobile power source for pulling and driving implements and machines such as plows, seed drills, and harvesters. Most tractors also supply a hydraulic system and a PTO shaft to operate attached equipment.

Tractors emerged from the broader mechanization of farming in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Fordson, introduced in 1917, popularized affordable power for farms worldwide. Innovations such as the three-point hitch, developed by Harry Ferguson, increased the usefulness of tractors by allowing stable attachment of implements.

Design and components: The core consists of an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a drive system (wheels or tracks). A three-point hitch and a power take-off (PTO) shaft enable hydraulic-driven implements. Modern cabs, climate control, and electronics improve operator comfort and control, while safety features such as rollover protection structures (ROPS) and seat belts are common.

Usage and types: Tractors range from compact, low-horsepower models for smallholders to high-horsepower machines for row crops and large farms. They may be two- or four-wheel drive, or track-based. Typical power ranges from about 20 to over 500 horsepower, with numerous attachments for plowing, planting, mowing, baling, and spraying.

Trends: Today’s tractors emphasize efficiency, precision agriculture, and emissions control. Alternative power sources, including biodiesel, electric, and hydrogen propulsion, are being explored. Autonomous and semi-autonomous tractors use GPS, sensors, and automation to undertake field tasks with minimal human input.

Industry: Tractors are produced worldwide by manufacturers such as John Deere, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Case IH, Kubota, Claas, and Fendt. The market is influenced by agricultural policy, farm consolidation, rural labor costs, and advances in farming technology.