The horsepower of a tractor directly determines its working efficiency, applicable scenarios, and operating costs. The key to choosing the right tractor is matching it to your farm size, type of work, and terrain conditions. Below is a detailed guide for different scenarios:

I. Horsepower Classification and Applicable Scenarios

1. Small horsepower tractors (10–30 horsepower)

• Core uses: Suitable for small plots of vegetable gardens, orchards, greenhouses, and terraced fields in mountainous areas.
• Typical operations: Rotary tilling, sowing, fertilizing, small-scale irrigation and water pumping, short-distance transportation (≤ 1 ton).
• Advantages: Small size, flexible turning, low fuel consumption, simple operation, suitable for working in confined spaces.
• Compatible implements: Small rotary tillers, seeders, furrow openers.

2. Medium-horsepower tractors (30–80 horsepower)

• Core Use: The main model for family farms and small to medium-sized growers, suitable for field operations in most plains and hilly areas of my country.
• Typical Operations: Dryland rotary tillage, paddy field harrowing, sowing, harvesting, straw return to the field, intertillage and weeding, grain transportation (1–3 tons).
• Advantages: Balances efficiency and flexibility, compatible with a variety of agricultural implements, and represents the most versatile horsepower range.
• Compatible Implements: Medium-sized rotary tillers, combined seeders, harvesters, straw shredders, trailers.

3. High-horsepower tractors (80–150 horsepower)

• Core Application: High-efficiency machine model for large-scale farms and agricultural cooperatives, suitable for large contiguous areas of land (≥500 mu).
• Typical Operations: Deep plowing and subsoiling, large-area sowing and fertilizing, combined operations (rotary tillage + sowing in one pass), and large trailer transport (3–8 tons).
• Advantages: Fast operating speed, strong traction, capable of handling heavy-duty operations, and reduces the number of passes required.
• Compatible Implements: Large hydraulic reversible plows, wide-width rotary tillers, combined tillage machines, and large seeders.

4. High-Horsepower Tractors (150 horsepower and above)

• Core Use: Specialized operations in large state-owned farms and modern agricultural industrial parks, mainly used in large-scale planting areas in Northeast and Northwest China.
• Typical Operations: Large-area deep plowing, conservation tillage, combined multi-functional operations, and towing heavy agricultural implements.
• Advantages: Extremely high operating efficiency, can be equipped with satellite navigation and automatic driving systems for precise operation.
• Note: High purchase and operating costs, and requires skilled drivers and good field road conditions.

II. Additional Factors to Consider

1. Terrain Conditions

• Flat areas: Prioritize high-horsepower models to maximize operational efficiency;
• Hilly and mountainous areas: Choose small to medium-horsepower four-wheel drive (4WD) models to improve climbing and anti-slip capabilities.

2. Type of Operation

• For rotary tillage and sowing only: Select the lower end of the corresponding horsepower range;
• For deep plowing and towing heavy agricultural implements: Select the upper end of the corresponding horsepower range, or a high-torque model.

3. Power Type

• Diesel engine type: High torque and low fuel consumption, making it the mainstream choice;
• Electric motor type: Suitable for scenarios sensitive to noise and emissions, such as greenhouses and orchards, but with a shorter operating range.

4. Brand and After-Sales Service

• Prioritize brands with numerous local service centers for convenient repairs and parts replacement.

III. Practical Selection Formulas (for reference)

Suggested horsepower ≈ planting area ÷ 20 + terrain correction value

• Plains: Terrain correction factor = 0;
• Hilly and mountainous areas: Terrain correction factor = 5–10;
• Example: For a 300-mu (Chinese acre) plot of flat land, the suggested horsepower ≈ 300 ÷ 20 = 15? This formula is incorrect and needs adjustment. A more reasonable empirical guideline is: 20–30 horsepower for plots under 50 mu; 50–70 horsepower for 100–300 mu; and over 100 horsepower for plots over 500 mu.