Methodology for the estimation of changes in the amount of polluting emissions created by the fleet of tractors

Considerable financial means have been invested during the last decade in modernization of agricultural machinery, including purchase of new tractors. As the corresponding EU directive sets gradual, by periods, reduction of the pollutants in the air for the new tractors and the number of such tractors with the specific fuel consumption are known, a methodological approach was offered in 2011 for the estimation of the variations in the amount of polluting emissions in the air created by the new tractors in a longer period of time [1]. However, in order to evaluate the impact of modernisation of the entire fleet of tractors upon the pollution variations in a longer period of time, for instance, by comparing the year 1996 or 2000, and 2010, one should know the characteristics of the pollution caused by the tractors produced in the former Commonwealth of Independent Countries (further - the CIS countries) which performed most of the farming operations at the beginning of the period mentioned. As parametrs for the estimation of the summary pollution in tons per year during the selected years were set the ratio of fuel consumption between the "new" and the "old" tractors, as well as distribution of the fuel consumption between agriculture and forestry because it is indicated in statistical reports as a common parameter. Distribution of fuel consumption was estimated also between tractors produced in the EU and the CIS countries. After the motivation of these assumptions an estimate was made of the summary air pollution emitted by the fleet of tractors in the years 1996, 2000 and 2010. The obtained results were evaluated in a brief discussion and a direction was outlined for further investigations.