Abstract: Abstract: This study aims to improve the wear resistance, impact toughness, and free of frequent failure of contacting parts with soil in the agricultural machinery. A Fe/WC/CeO2 ceramic composite coating was prepared on the Q235 steel substrate by plasma surfacing technology. An analysis was also made to clarify the influence of the CeO2 compound on the wear resistance of Fe/WC cermet composite coating and the action mechanism. An orthogonal test was used to optimize the preparation process parameters of the Fe/WC/CeO2 plasma surfacing layer, where the surfacing current, surfacing speed, powder feeding rate, and powder feeding distance were taken as the test factors and the wear quality as the evaluation index. Specifically, the welding current was 50 A, welding distance 5 mm, welding speed 15 cm/min, and power transport rate 25 g/min. The microstructure and phase composition of the surfacing layer were characterized by a scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The results showed that there was an outstanding interface between the surfacing layer and the matrix bonding zone, indicating that the surfacing layer and matrix permeated each other to form an excellent metallurgical bonding. The size of the hard phase in the surfacing layer decreased outstandingly in presence of a dispersion distribution, particularly with the shape like a fishbone, long rod, ball, and hexagonal. The surfacing layer was composed of γ-Fe, Fe-Cr-Ni solid solution, WC, M7C3, Cr7C3, Cr23C6, and W2C. The carbide hard phase (such as WC, Cr7C3, and Cr23C6) was effectively improved the hardness and wear resistance of the surfacing layer. In addition, the addition of CeO2 decarbonized the WC hard phase to form W2C hard phase for better wear resistance. The Vickers microhardness tester, friction and wear testing machine and impact testing machine were used to measure the microhardness, wear resistance, and impact toughness of the surfacing layer. The corrosion resistance was also analyzed by an electrochemical workstation. It was found that there was a uniform distribution of microhardness with a gradual decrease from the coating to substrate along the section of the surfacing layer. The average microhardness of the Fe/WC/CeO2 surfacing layer (HV0.5870) was much higher, indicating less wear quality, smaller friction coefficient, and better wear resistance, compared with the Fe/WC (HV0.5710). The reason was that the CeO2 phase was evenly distributed to enhance the anti-wear properties, due to the refined hard phase, such as WC, M7C3, and Cr23C6 in the surfacing layer. The impact toughness values of Fe/WC and Fe/WC/CeO2 surfacing layers were about 6.1 J/cm2 and 7.9 J/cm2, respectively. The average microhardness, impact toughness, and corrosion resistance of the Fe/WC/CeO2 surfacing layer increased by 22%, 29%, and 15%, respectively, compared with Fe/WC. The soil groove test showed that the average wear of the Fe/WC/CeO2 rotary blade was 71% lower than that of the commonly-used 65Mn rotary blade, and 17% lower than that of Fe/WC. The field experiments showed that the surface of the Fe/WC/CeO2 layer was smooth with serious abrasion marks or falling off. The Fe/WC/CeO2 coated rotary tillage knife (25 g) decreased by 65% and 15%, compared with the 65Mn rotary tillage knife (71 g), and Fe/WC coated rotary blade (29.5 g), respectively. Consequently, the Fe/WC/CeO2 coating was prepared on the surface of agricultural machinery in contact with the soil by plasma surfacing, indicating a high application value with low cost, high efficiency, flexibility, and convenience. Anyway, the rotary tillage knife with the Fe/WC/CeO2 coating surfacing layer can be expected to present an excellent wear resistance and comprehensive mechanical properties for agriculture production.