Nampo showed that rippers are ripping deeper than ever and cultivators have become even wider, says Joe Spencer.
The latest buzzword in soil cultivation is ‘vertical tillage’. So much so, that one agricultural publication invited tillage equipment manufacturers to define the term. This resulted in a widely varying interpretation of the concept. Rather than getting involved in the debate, I’ll illustrate various manufacturers’ approach to different aspects of tillage, based on their displays at Nampo 2018.
1 Kongskilde Vertical Tillage 9000-series
The 9000-series vertical tillage tool is designed to penetrate hard, dry soil through heavy crop residue. It can work the ground down to 100mm in a single pass without requiring extra weight, mixing the soil with the crop residue to hold this valuable material in place. The 9132 shown here has 98 discs, a working width of 9,76m, and weighs 9,5t. It requires a 250kW to 280kW tractor.
2 Erdvark hydraulic reset ripper
The three-point mounted Erdvark hydraulic reset ripper is made for heavy work. The robust shanks are protected by shear bolts as well as a hydraulic reset. Working depth is between 650mm and 1 050mm, depending on the type of shank fitted. The 30mm-wide shank has a hard-wearing tip and protective shin plates to reduce wear. Also available is a special shank with adjustable wings to increase aeration and loosen compaction.
3 Degelman Pro-Till 20 compact disc cultivator
Canada’s Degelman has entered the highly competitive local market for compact, high-speed disc cultivators. The company claims that its Pro- Till shreds residue at a speed of up to 22km/h while ensuring uniform distribution. This is due to a combination of independent disc arms with small-diameter discs, motion-damping rubber suspension, a sturdy frame, and unique consolidating rollers.
4 RipTill strip-till combination
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