Central Luzon State University

College of Engineering
Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Agricultural Mechanization and Machinery

Management

Assignment No.3
Research Paper on Agricultural Machinery
Primary Tillage

Submitted by:
Gilbert M. Domingo Jr.
MSAEn

Submitted to:
Dr. Romeo B. Gavino
Professor

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 Table of Contents

Page

No.

INTRODUCTION 4

CHARACTERIZATION AND GENERAL FUNCTION OF PRIMARY TILLAGE 5

Tillage Operation 5

Primary Tillage Function and definition 5

Objectives of tillage 5

Basic Operation of Tillage 6

Plowing of Land 6

Factors Affecting the Energy Requirement in Tillage Operation 7

Types of Primary Tillage According to Purpose 7

TYPES, FUNCTION AND ADAPTABILITY OF PRIMARY TILLAGE 9

Moldboard Plow 9

Moldboard Plow Classification 13

Disc Plow 16

Classification of Disk Plow 17

Rotary tiller 19

Classification of Disk Plow 19

Chisel plow 22

Subsoiler 13

Classification of Subsoiler 24

Test Procedure and Measurements for Subsoiler 26

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FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PRIMARY TILLAGE – DISC PLOW 30

Disc Plow Available on Selected Agency – PhilSCAT 38

Test Procedure and Measurements 40

SOME PRIMARY TILLAGE FROM OTHER AGENCY (PhilRice) 48

OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN THE PHILIPPINES – PRIMARY 50

TILLAGE EQUIPMENT

SAMPLE PLOWING OPERATIONS FOR PRIMARY TILLAGE 51

REFERENCES 52

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INTRODUCTION

Tillage operations in various forms have been practiced from the very inception of
growing plants. Primitive man used tools to disturb the soils for placing the seeds. The word tillage
is derived from ‘Anglo-Saxon’ words Tilian and Teolian, meaning ‘to plow and prepare soil for
seed to sow, to cultivate and to raise crops’. Jethrotull, who is considered as father of tillage
suggested that thorough plowing is necessary so as to make the soil into fine particles.

Tillage is the mechanical manipulation of soil with tools and implements for obtaining
conditions ideal for seed germination, seedling establishment and growth of crops.
Primary Tillage constitutes the initial major soil working operation. It is normally designed to
reduce soil strength, cover plant materials and rearrange aggregates. The operations performed to
open up any cultivable land with a view to prepare a seed bed for growing crops is known as
primary tillage. Animal drawn implements mostly include indigenous plow and mould-board
plow. Tractor drawn implements include mould-board plow, disc plow, subsoil plow, chisel plow
and other similar implements.

Effective tillage systems create an ideal seedbed soil condition (i.e. soil moisture,
temperature, bulk density, and soil aggregates) for plant emergence and plant development. Most
researches had often used bulk density, soil structure, compaction, particle size distribution,
porosity and moisture content for characterizing soil tillage (Fragin, 1986; Hakansson, 1990;
Steyn and Tolmay, 1995). Lal (1985) suggested a system for rating of soil and climatic
characteristics to facilitate the identification of tillage requirements. However, his analysis was
limited to no-till, minimum tillage, chiseling and both primary and secondary tillage systems
without consideration of the implements, depth and frequency of operations.

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CHARACTERIZATION AND GENERAL FUNCTION OF PRIMARY TILLAGE

Tillage Operation

It is a mechanical manipulation of soil to provide favorable condition for crop production.

Soil tillage consists of breaking the compact surface of earth to a certain depth and to loosen the
soil mass, so as to enable the roots of the crops to penetrate and spread into the soil.

Primary Tillage Function and definition

Primary tillage constitutes the initial major soil working operation. It is normally designed
to reduce soil strength, cover plant materials and rearrange aggregates. The operations performed
to open up any cultivable land with a view to prepare a seed bed for growing crops is known as
primary tillage. Animal drawn implements mostly include indigenous plow and mould-board
plow. Tractor drawn implements include mould-board plow, disc plow, subsoil plow, chisel plow
and other similar implements. Tillage needs to be done at the right time with the right implements
to get good tilth, which is pre-requisite for better crop production. Tillage process is generally
accomplished in two stages, namely, primary and secondary tillages. Layout for seedbed
preparation is also inseparable process with tillage, a practice made before sowing or planting of
crop.

Objectives of tillage
The main objectives of tillage are,
• To prepare a good seed bed which helps the germination of seeds.
• To create conditions in the soil suited for better growth of crops.
• To control the weeds effectively.
• To make the soil capable for absorbing more rain water.
• To mix up the manure and fertilizers uniformly in the soil.
• To aerate the soil.
• To provide adequate seed-soil contact to permit water flow to seed and seedling roots.
• To remove the hard pan and to increase the soil depth.
To achieve these objectives, the soil is disturbed / opened up and turned over.

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Basic Operation of Tillage

Reduction of volume (compaction) of the soil;

 Cutting of soil;
 Shear plane formation (crumbling, pulverization) in the soil;
 Transport or movement of soil from one place to another place; and
 Deformation of soil mass.

Plowing of Land

The plowing of land separates the top layer of soil into furrow slices. The furrows are
turned sideways and inverted to a varying degree, depending upon the type of plow being used. It
is a primary tillage operation, which is performed to shatter soil uniformly with partial or complete
soil inversion. There are a few important terms frequently used in connection with plowing of land.

Figure 1. Plowing of land

Soil and Surface Characteristics

Furrow -It is a trench formed by an implement in the soil during the field operation
Furrow slice - The mass of soil cut, lifted and thrown to one side is called furrow slice.
Furrow wall - It is an undisturbed soil surface by the side of a furrow.

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 Crown - The top portion of the turned furrow slice is called crown.
Back furrow - A raised ridge left at the center of the strip of land when plowing is started
from center to side is called back furrow. When the plowing is started in the middle
of a field, furrow is collected across the field and while returning trip another furrow
slice is lapped over the first furrow. This is the raised ridge which is named as back
furrow.
Dead furrow - An open trench left in between two adjacent strips of land after finishing the
plowing is called dead furrow.

Factors Affecting the Energy Requirement in Tillage Operation

 Soil type
 Condition of the soil – Moisture content, bulk density, and structure
 Shape working depth, and speed of tool
 Climatic condition
 Extent to which the power source and implement or tool match
 Correct adjustment or use of the implement

Types of Primary Tillage According to Purpose

Depending upon the purpose or necessity, different types of tillage are carried out. The following
are:

 deep plowing
 subsoiling
 year-round tillage.

1. Deep Tillage

Deep plowing turns out large sized clods, which are baked by the hot sun when it is done
in summer. These clods crumble due to alternate heating and cooling and due to occasional summer
showers. This process of gradual disintegration of clods improves soil structure. The rhizomes and
tubers of perennial weeds (world's problematic weeds viz., Cynodon dactylon and Cyperus

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rotundus) die due to exposure to hot sun. Summer deep plowing kills pests due to exposure of
pupae to hot sun.

A deep tillage of 25-30 cm depth is necessary for deep rooted crop like pigeonpea while
moderate deep tillage of 15-20 cm is required for maize.

Deep tillage also improves soil moisture content. However the advantage of deep tillage
in dry farming condition depends on rainfall pattern and crop.

It is advisable to go for deep plowing only for long duration, deep rooted crops. Depth of
plowing should be related to the amount of rainfall that it can wet.

Figure 2. Deep tillage

2. Subsoiling

Hard pans may be present in the soil which restrict root growth of crops. These may be silt
pans, iron or aluminium pans, clay pans or -man-made pans. Man-made pans are tillage pans
induced by repeated tillage at the same depth. Root growth of crops is confined to top few
centimetres of soil where deep penetration of roots is inhibited by hard pans. For example, cotton
roots grow to a depth of 2 m in deep alluvial soil without any pans. When hard pans are present,
they grow only up to hard pan, say 15-20 cm. Similarly, vertical root growth of sugarcane is
restricted due to hard pans and it is not compensated by horizontal spread.

Subsoiling is breaking the hard pan without inversion and with less disturbance of top soil.
A narrow cut is made in the top soil while share of the subsoiler shatters hard pans. Chisel plows

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are also used to break hard pans present even at 60-70 cm. The effect of subsoiling does not last
long. To avoid closing of subsoil furrow, vertical mulching is adopted.

Figure 3. Subsoiling
3. Year-round Tillage

Tillage operations carried out throughout the year are known as year-round tillage. In dry farming
regions, field preparation is initiated with the help of summer showers. Repeated tillage operations
are carried out until sowing of the crop. Even after harvest of the crop, the field is repeatedly
plowed or harrowed to avoid weed growth in the off season.

TYPES, FUNCTION AND ADAPTABILITY OF PRIMARY TILLAGE

1. Moldboard Plow

Function of Moldboard Plow

 cutting the furrow slice

 lifting the soil
 turning the furrow slice and
 Pulverizing the soil.

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 Figure 4. Moldboard Plow

Figure 5. Reversible Plow for Two-Wheel

Tractor

Figure 6. Reversible Plow for Four-Wheel Tractor

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Major Components of Moldboard Plow

Major components of Moldboard plow consists of Share, Moldboard and Land side,

Share
It penetrates into the soil and makes a horizontal cut below the soil surface. It is a sharp,
well-polished and pointed component. The shares are made of chilled cast iron or steel. The steel
mainly contains about 0.70 to 0.80% carbon and about 0.50 to 0.80% manganese besides other
minor elements.

Moldboard
The moldboard is that part of the plow
which receives the furrow slice from the share. If
lifts, turns and breaks the furrow slice. To suit
different soil conditions and crop requirements,
moldboard has been designed in different shapes.
The moldboard is of following types:
a) General purpose
b) Stubble Figure 7. Types of Moldboard
c) Sod or Breaker and
d) Slat.

a.) General purpose - It is a moldboard having medium curvature lying between stubble
and sod. The sloping of the surface is gradual. It turns the well-defined furrow slice
and pulverizes the soil thoroughly. It has a fairly long moldboard with a gradual twist, the
surface being slightly convex.

b.) Stubble type -It is short but broader moldboard with a relatively abrupt curvature which
lifts breaks and turns the furrow slice used in stubble soils. Its curvature is not gradual but
it is abrupt along the top edge. This causes the furrow slice to be thrown off quickly,
pulverizing it much better than other types of moldboard. This is best suited to work in

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 stubble soil that is under cultivation for years together. Stubble soil is that soil in which
stubble of the plants from the previous crop is still left on the land at the time of plowing.

c.) Sod or Breaker type - It is a long moldboard with gentle curvature which lifts and inverts
the unbroken furrow slice. It is used in tough soil of grasses. It turns over thickly covered
soil. This is very useful where complete inversion of soil is required by the farmer.
d.) Slat type - It is a moldboard whose surface is made of slats placed along the length of
the moldboard, so that there are gaps between the slats. This type of moldboard is often
used, where the soil is sticky, because the solid moldboard does not scour well in sticky
soils.

Land side
It is the flat plate which bears against and transmits lateral thrust of the plow bottom to the
furrow wall. It helps to resist the side pressure exerted by the furrow slice on the moldboard. It
also helps in stabilizing the plow while it is in operations.

Sub-components

Frog -Frog is that part of the plow bottom to which the other components of the plow bottom are
attached. It is an irregular piece of metal. It may be made of cast iron for cast iron plows
or it may be welded steel for steel plows.

Tail piece - It is an important extension of moldboard which helps in turning a furrow slice.

Landside heel - part attached to the rear of a landside, which applies the vertical load of the plow
bottom to the furrow bottom

Shin - leading edge of the moldboard located above the landside

Standard - upright support which connects the plow bottom to tillage implement frame

Jointer - It is a small irregular piece of metal having a shape similar to an ordinary plow bottom.
It looks like a miniature plow. Its purpose is to turn over a small ribbon like furrow slice
directly in front of the main plow bottom. This small furrow slice is cut from the left and
upper side of the main furrow slice and is inverted so that all trashes on the top of the soil
are completely turned down and buried under the right hand corner of the furrow.

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Coulter- It is a device used to cut the furrow slice vertically from the land ahead of the plow
bottom. It cuts the furrow slice from the land and leaves a clear wall. It also cuts trashes
which are covered under the soil by the plow. The coulter may be Rolling type disc
coulter or Sliding type knife coulter.

Gauge wheel- It is an auxiliary wheel of an implement to maintain uniform depth of working.

Gauge wheel helps to maintain uniformity in respect of depth of plowing in different soil
conditions. It is usually placed in hanging position.

Land wheel - It is the wheel of the plow, which runs on the plowed land.
Front furrow wheel - It is the front wheel of the plow, which runs in the furrow.
Rear furrow wheel - It is the rear wheel of the plow, which runs in the furrow.

Moldboard Plow Classification

A.) Animal-drawn Moldboard Plow

Figure 8. Animal-drawn Moldboard Plow

B. Four-wheel Tractor Mounted

B.1. Tractor-mounted Moldboard Plow
Type of plow mounted on the tractor’s three-point linkage and depends upon the tractor for
its general operation

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 Figure 9. Tractor-mounted Moldboard Plow

B.2 Semi-mounted Moldboard Plow

Type of plow that has the front end directly connected to the tractor’s three-point linkage
and its rear end is supported by furrow and land wheels. The plow is also equipped with hydraulic
lines and cylinders for its lifting and/or depth control.

Figure 10. Semi-mounted Moldboard Plow

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B.3 Trailing Moldboard Plow

Trailing Moldboard Plow

Figure 11. Trailing Moldboard Plow

Performance Requirements

Table 1. Approximate Four-Wheel Tractor Engine Power for Specific Moldboard Plow Sizes

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2. Disc Plow

It is a plow, which cuts, turns and in some cases breaks furrow slices by means of separately
mounted large steel discs. A disc plow is designed with a view of reduce friction by making a
rolling plow bottom instead of sliding plow bottom. A disc plow works well in the conditions
where moldboard plow does not work satisfactorily.

Figure 12. Disk Plow

Major Components of a Disc Plow

Frame - structure on which the standards are fitted
Hitch - portion of an implement designed to connect the implement to a power source Scraper -
component which scrapes the soil adhering to the concave side of the disc
Standard - upright support which connects the shank to tillage implement frame
Scraper - It is a device to remove soil that tend to stick to the working surface of a disc.

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Classification of Disk Plow

A. One-way Disc Plow

Tractor-mounted or integral one-way disc plows are attached to the tractor by three-point
hitch linkages and are fully carried by the tractor during transport. Figure below show the One-
way disk plow

Figure 13. Tractor-mounted One-way Disc Plow

B. Reversible Disc Plow

B.1 Tractor-mounted Reversible Disc Plow

This plow is attached to the three-point hitch and is fully carried by the tractor in transport.
20This type is usually limited in size (2-4 discs) due to tractor front-end stability and hydraulic lift
capacity.

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 Figure 14. Tractor-mounted One-way Disc Plow

B.2 Semi-mounted Reversible Disc Plow

Semi-mounted or semi-integral reversible disc plow is attached to the tractor’s lower hitch
points and is raised/lowered by the tractor hitch as well as a remote hydraulic cylinder on the rear
transport wheel. On some of these plows, the rear wheel operates on the land and serves as a gauge
wheel when plowing and as transport wheel (free to caster) when the plow is raised. The rear wheel
is an attachment for converting a fully integral, reversible disc plow to semi-integral operation.

Figure 15. Semi-mounted Reversible Disc Plow

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Disk and Tilt Angle
Disc angle - angle, in the soil surface plane, between a tool axis and a line, which is
perpendicular to the direction of travel
Tilt angle - angle, in a vertical plane perpendicular to the direction of travel, between a tool
axis and the soil surface

Figure 16. Disk and Tilt angle

3. Rotary tiller
The rotary cultivator is widely considered to be the most important tool as it provides fine
degree of pulverization enabling the necessary rapid and intimate mixing of soil besides reduction
in traction demanded by the tractor driving wheels due to the ability of the soil working blades to
provide some forward thrust to the cultivating outfit. Rotary tiller is directly mounted to the tractor
with the help of three point linkage.

Classification of Rotary Tiller

A. Two-wheel tractor Rotary Tiller

A rotary tiller may be rigidly attached to a two-wheel tractor and powered via couplings
to the tractors' transmission. The higher horsepower "riding" rotavators cross out of the home
garden category into farming category especially in Asia, Africa and South America, capable of
preparing 1 hectare of land in 8 to 10 hours. These are also known as power tillers, walking
tractors, or two-wheel tractors.

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 Years ago, these tillers were considered useful only for rice growing areas, where they were
fitted with steel cage-wheels for traction. Now, however, the same types of tillers are being used
in both wetland and dryland farming all over the world. Compact, powerful and (most importantly)
inexpensive, these agricultural rotary tillers are providing alternatives to four-wheel tractors, and
for the small farm fields in developing countries, they are more economical than four-wheel
tractors.

A.1 Rotary Tilling-type

Rotary Tilling type can be classified as PTO-driven or Axle-driven. Both are equipped with
rotary blades that cuts, break up and mixes the soil and plant residues. It is especially designed for
paddy preparation in rice production. The PTO-driven has the ability to provide power and operate
various types of agricultural equipment through its PTO. Axle driven is smaller in size, fitted with
cage wheels, and attach with rotary blade assembly through its axle.

Figure 17. Rotary Tiller PTO-driven

Figure 18. Rotary Tiller Axle-driven

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A.2. Special Type (Float-Assist Tiller)

Float-Assist Tiller (figure 19) is a special type of walking-type agricultural tractor with a
front-mounted tilling wheel and equipped with a flotation structure commonly used in waterlogged
fields.

Figure 19. Special type Float-assist

Tiller

B. Four Wheel Tractor Rotary Tiller

The power is transmitted from the tractor PTO (Power Take Off) shaft to a bevel gear box
mounted on the top of the unit, through telescopic shaft and universal joint. From the bevel gear
box the drive is further transmitted to a power shaft, chain and sprocket transmission system to the
rotor. The tines are fixed to the rotor and the rotor with tines revolves in the same direction as the
tractor wheels. The number of tines varies from 28 - 54. A levelling board is attached to the rear
side of the unit for levelling the tilled soil. A depth control lever with depth wheel provided on
either side of the unit ensures proper depth control.

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 Figure 20. Rotary Plow and its Components

4. Chisel plow
Chisel plows are used to break through and shatter compacted or otherwise impermeable
soil layers. Deep tillage shatters compacted sub soil layers and aids in better infiltration and storage
of rainwater in the crop root zone. The improved soil structure also results in better development
of root system and the yield of crops and their drought tolerance is also improved. The functional
component of the unit include reversible share, tyne (chisel), beam, cross shaft and top link
connection. The implement performs chisel tillage, leaving on the surface 30-60% of crop residues,
which solves the problem of soil erosion, maintaining the organic composition of the soil and
ensuring its long-term fertility.

Figure 21. Chisel Plow and its Components

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Salient Features of Chisel Plow
 Reduce the bulk density of the soil
 Two fold increase in hydraulic conductivity of sub-soil
 Conserves around 30-40% more soil moisture
 Roots proliferation is improved from 40 to 50%
 Nutrient mobility especially N and K increase by 20 to 30% and 30 to 40% respectively
 Easily operated by any tractor 35 to 45 hp.

5. Subsoiler
The function of the sub-soiler is to penetrate deeper than the conventional cultivation
machinery and break up the layers of the soil, which have become compacted due to the movement
of heavy machinery or as a result of continuous plowing at a constant depth. These compacted
areas prevent the natural drainage of the soil and also inhibit the passage of air and nutrients
through the soil structure. The sub-soiler consists of heavier tyne than the chisel plow to break
through impervious layer shattering the sub-soil to a depth of 45 to 75 cm and requires 60 to 100
hp to operate it. The advantages are same as that of chisel plow.
Subsoiler is one of the most effective means to improve water-air soil regimes, capable to create
quality mulch from the crop residues. It is designed for loosening of the soil compacted by the
horizontal cultivation implements, such as plows, disc and tine cultivators.

Figure 22. Subsoiler

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Components of a Subsoiler

Main frame - part of the subsoiler that holds the transverse toolbars together
Transverse tool bar - part of the main frame to which shank assemblies are attached
Wear shin - metal plate attached to the shank to reduce abrasion and enhance durability of the
shank
Shank - structural member primarily used for attaching a tillage tool to a beam
Ripper point - tool attached to the shank of the subsoiler to cut through the soil

Subsoiler Classification

1. According to type of mounting

1.1 Drawn type subsoiler

Type of subsoiler wherein main frame is mounted far behind the tractor. Guide wheels are
necessary for transport

Figure 23. Drawn type subsoiler

2.2 Three-point hitch mounted

Type of subsoiler wherein main frame is mounted to the rear of the tractor using the
3-point hitch linkages

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 Figure 24. Three-point hitch mounted type
subsoiler

2 According to type of shank

2.1 Straight shank

Figure 25. Straight shank subsoiler

2.2 Curved or parabolic shank

Figure 26. Curved shank subsoiler

-mounted One-way Disc Plow

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Test Procedure and Measurements

General Conditions for Test and Inspection

Role of manufacturer/dealer
The manufacturer shall submit the operator’s manual of the subsoiler and shall abide by
the terms and conditions set forth by an official testing agency.

Role of the operator

An officially designated operator shall be skilled and shall be able to demonstrate, operate,
adjust and make repairs related to the operation of the equipment.

Test site conditions

The subsoiler shall be tested through actual cultivation of the soil. The field shall have
ample space to allow turns in headland.

Tractor to be used
The tractor to be used to conduct the test shall be compatible with the subsoiler in
accordance with the manufacturer’s specification of required power.

Termination of test for subsoiler

If during the test, the subsoiler encounters major component breakdown or malfunction,
the test engineer shall terminate the test.

Test and Inspection

Verification of the manufacturer’s technical data and information

This inspection is carried out to verify the mechanism, dimensions, materials and
accessories of the subsoiler in comparison with the list of manufacturer’s technical data and
information.

Performance test

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 This is carried out to obtain actual data on overall performance of the subsoiler.
Field performance test
 The subsoiler shall be tested at the recommended depth settings of the manufacturer
 The tractor speed shall be determined according to the recommended depth
 This can be done by recording the time required for the tractor to travel a 20 m distance in
the field shown in figure below.

Figure 27. Points for speed test

 The total test time shall be obtained by acquiring the total time to finish cultivating the test
field.
 Non-productive time (e.g. headland turns) shall be recorded. Productive time shall be
obtained by deducting the non- productive time from the total test time.
 The fuel consumed by the tractor shall be obtained. This can be done by measuring the
volume of fuel refilled after the test. The tank shall be filled to full capacity before and
after each trial.
 The working width shall be obtained by measuring the distance between the outermost
shanks and shall be noted.

Determination of draft
A spring, hydraulic or stain-gauge type dynamometer shall be attached to the front of the
tractor on which the implement is mounted. Another auxiliary tractor shall pull the implement-
mounted tractor through the dynamometer in neutral gear but with the implement in its operating
position shown in figure below. The draft in the measured distance of 20 m as well as the time it

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takes to traverse it shall be recorded. On the same field, the draft in the same distance shall be
recorded while the implement is lifted above the ground. The difference in the draft readings shall
yield the draft of the implement.

Figure 28. Position of tractors for draft

measurement

Test for uniformity of depth of cut

 Two points in the field passed shall be marked using pegs. The distance between these
points shall be 20 m. Every two meters, a marking peg shall be placed shown in figure belo

Figure 29. Soil strips marking for operating depth analysis

 The operating depth of the subsoiler shall be set. The subsoiler shall be operated along the
marked strips (Figure 29). These strips of soil shall be observed.
 The depth of cut for each strip shall be measured and shall be recorded

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 Figure 29. Depth of cut.

 The percentage of wheel slip shall be obtained by recording the difference of the distance
traveled without load and the distance traveled with the implement attached. A mark shall
be placed on the wheel of the tractor (Figure 30). The tractor shall be allowed to move
forward up to 10 revolutions of the marked wheel under no load (A). The distance shall be
measured and recorded. On the same surface, the tractor shall be allowed to move forward
with the implement attached. After same number of revolutions, the distance traveled shall
be measured and recorded (B). The percentage of wheel slip shall then be computed using
the formula in Annex D.

Figure 30. Measuring of wheel slip

 Condition of subsoiler after test shall be compared to its initial condition.

 Welded parts shall be inspected.
 Loosened bolts shall be noted.

Test trial
There shall be at least three (3) trials in conducting the test.

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FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PRIMARY TILLAGE – DISC PLOW

Function and Definition

A primary tillage implement with individually mounted concave disk blades which cut,
partially or completely invert a layer of soil to bury surface material, and pulverize the soil. Blades
are attached to the frame in a tilted position relative to the frame and to the direction of travel for
proper penetration and soil displacement.
A disc plough (or plow) is designed with a view of reduce friction by making a rolling
plough bottom instead of sliding plough bottom. Penetration is increased by the addition of ballast
weight. Disk plows are equipped with one or more blades of diameter corresponding to intended
working depth. Disk plows are commonly right-hand, but two-way plows are equipped with right-
hand and left-hand blades.

Frame

Rear Thrust Wheel

Upper Hitch
point

Concave Disc

Lower Hitch
Standard Point

Scrapper

Pressure spring
Bearing
Housing

Figure 31. Disc Plow and its Components

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Components Description

Parts/Components

Frame - structure on which the standards are fitted

Hitch - portion of an implement designed to connect the implement to a power source Scraper -
component which scrapes the soil adhering to the concave side of the disc
Standard - upright support which connects the shank to tillage implement frame
Scraper - It is a device to remove soil that tend to stick to the working surface of a disc.
Concave disc - circular concave steel plate used for cutting and inverting the soil
Side angle (disc angle) - angle, in the soil surface plane, between a tool axis and a line, which is
perpendicular to the direction of travel
Tilt angle - angle, in a vertical plane perpendicular to the direction of travel, between a tool axis
and the soil surface in standard disc plow provisions are made for adjustments of disc angle and
tilt angle.

Disc Angle

The angle at which the plane of cutting edge of disc is inclined to direction of travel is called
Disc Angle. It varies from 42 to 45 degree.

Figure 32. Disc Angle

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Tilt Angle

It is the angle at which the plane of cutting edge of disc is inclined to vertical line. Tilt
angle varies from 15 to 25 degree.

Figure 33. Tilt Angle

Adjustment of tilt angle:

 Shifting standard on the frame

 By adjusting blocks
 Changing grooves in bearing brackets

Concavity- It is the depth measured at the center of disc by placing its concave side on flat
surface.
Width of cut - transverse distance between either the top or bottom cutting edges of the end discs.
It is adjusted by adjusting angle between land wheel axle and frame. Improved by
increasing disc angle and decreasing tilt angle.

Advantages of disc plow

 A disc plow can be forced to penetrate into the soil which is too hard and dry for working
with a moldboard plow.
 It works well in sticky soil in which a moldboard plow does not scour.
 It is more useful for deep plowing.
 It can be used safely in stony and stumpy soil without much danger of breakage.

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  A disc plow works well even after a considerable part of the disc is worn off in abrasive
soil.
 It works in loose soil also (such as peat) without much clogging.
Disadvantages of disc plow
 It is not suitable for covering surface trash and weeds as effectively as moldboard plow
does.
 Comparatively, the disc plow leaves the soil in rough and cloddier condition than that of
moldboard plow.
 Disc plow is much heavier than moldboard plow for equal capacities because penetration
of this plow is affected largely by its weight rather than suction. There is one significant
difference between moldboard plow and disc plow i.e. moldboard plow is forced into the
ground by the suction of the plow, while the disc plow is forced into the ground by its own
weight.

Disadvantages of Disc Plow:

 Disc plow cannot be used at high speed since for cutting action at slow speed is necessary.
 It is not suitable for covering surface trash and weeds as effectively as mould board plow.
 It leaves field rough and cloddy than mould board plow.
 It is heavier than mould board plow for equal capacities as penetration depends on weight
rather than suction.

Types of Disc Plow

Disc ploughs are of two types (i) Standard disc plough and (ii) Vertical disc plough.

A. Standard disc plough

It consists of steel disc of 60 to 90 cm diameter, set at a certain angle to the direction of

travel. Each disc revolves on a stub axle in a thrust bearing, carried at the lower end of a strong
stand which is bolted to the plough beam. The angle of the disc to the vertical and to the furrow
wall is adjustable. In action, the disc cuts the soil, breaks it and pushes it sideways. There is little

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inversion of furrow slice as well as little burying of weeds and trashes. The disc plough may be
mounted type or trailed type. In mounted disc plough, the side thrust is taken by the wheels of the
tractor. Disc is made of heat treated steel of 5 mm to 10 mm thickness. The amount of concavity
varies with the diameter of the disc. The approximate values being 8 cm for 60 cm diameter disc
and 16 cm for 95 cm diameter. A few important terms connected with disc plough is explained
below

Figure 34.Standard Disc Plow

B. Vertical Disc Plough

 It is the plough which combines the principle of regular disc plough and disc harrow and
is used for shallow working in the soil.
 Also called as one-way disc plow, harrow plow and wheat land plow.
 Similar to pull type and standard disc plow but discs are uniformly spaced along a common
axle or gang bolt and clamped together through spacer spools so the entire gang rotates as
a unit (as in disc harrow).
 It is about halfway between the standard disc plow and disc harrow in its soil working
action.
 Generally used in plain areas and where shallow plowing and mixing of stubble with soil
is required. Diameter of discs varies from 51 cm to 61 cm and spacing from 20 to 25 cm

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apart along the gang bolt. Width of cut per disc depends upon the angle between gang axis
and direction of travel. Disc angle ranges from 35 to 60 degree and most common angle is
40 to 45 degrees.

Figure 35.Vertical Disc Plow

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Table 1. Comparison between Standard Disc Plow and Vertical Disc Plow

S. No. Comparison Standard Disc Plough Vertical Disc Plough

1. Mounting of disc Individual axis Common axis

2. Number of discs 1-6 5-24

3. Sizes of discs 60-75 cm 40-60 cm

4. Spacing 18-30 cm 18-22 cm

5. Concavity More Less

6. Depth of cut 30-40 cm 8-10 cm

7. Angle to direction of travel 42-45 degree 35-60 degree

8. Tilt angle 15-25 degree 0 degree

9. Weight/disc 200-600 kg 50-100 kg

10. Draft requirement High Low

Draft and Adjustments of Disc Plow

The disc plows is lighter in draft than the mould board plow, turning same volume of soil
in similar conditions. In very hard soil some extra weight is added to the wheel which increases
draft. The bearing and scrapers of disc plow also affect the draft.

Different adjustments on disc plow affect depth of cut, width of cut and pulverization of soil as;

 Penetration is improved by increasing disc angle.

 Penetration is improved by decreasing tilt angle on standard disc plow.
 Penetration is improved by adding additional weight on plow.

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  Depth of penetration ranges 3” - 15”. For better penetration discs should be sharpened.

Table 2. Trouble Shooting

Defect Reasons Remedy

1. Blunt disc 1 Sharpen the edge
1. Low Penetration 2. Plow too light 2. Put additional load
3. More tilt angle 3 Set tilt angle

1. Blunt disc 1. Sharpen the edge

2. Heavy draft
2. Furrow too wide 2. Reduce tilt angle

3.Excessive Side Draft 1. Improper hitching 1. Hitch properly

4. Less Scouring 1. Defective Scraper 1. Adjust the Scraper

5. Uneven Furrows 1. Disc angle not uniform 1. Set disc angle

2. Loose bearings 2. Set bearings
3. Hitching defective 3. Set hitching

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Disc Plow Available on Selected Agency – PhilSCAT

1. Two-wheel Tractor Mounted Disc Plow

Figure 36. Two-wheel Tractor Mounted Disc Plow

Specification:
Disc - 3.5mm (MS plate)
Bearing - #6205
Tentative Price:
Usually sold as package deal with the hand tractor.
Set price is 65,000-70,000 Php

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2. Four wheel Tractor Disc Plow

Figure 38. Four-wheel Tractor Mounted Disc Plow

Specification
Number of Disc – 3 pcs
Working width-600mm
Working depth- 200mm
Diameter of Disc – 510mm
Weight – 180kg
Matched Power – 25 to 35 hp
Linkage – 3 hitch point
Price- Php. 45,000 to 50,000

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Test Procedure and Measurements

Tests for Disk/Moldboard Plow

A. General Conditions for Test and Inspection

Plow on Test
The plow submitted for test shall be sampled in accordance with PAES 103 (Method of
Sampling).

Role of the Manufacturer/Dealer

The manufacturer/dealer shall submit to the official testing agency the specifications and
other relevant information on the plow. An official representative of the manufacturer/dealer shall
be appointed to conduct minor repairs and adjustments and witness the test. It shall be the duty of
the representative to make all decisions on matters of adjustment and preparation of the implement
for testing. The manufacturer/dealer shall abide by the terms and conditions set forth by the official
testing agency.

Termination of Test
If the plow fails to penetrate the soil or becomes non-functional during test, the test shall
be terminated by the test engineers.

Tractor and Draft Animals to be used

 The tractor to be used shall be compatible with the plow in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specification of required power.
 Draft animals shall be in good physical condition during the test. The implement’s draft
shall be approximately 15% of the animal’s body weight.
B. Tests and Inspection

Field Performance Test

 This is carried out to test the field performance of the plow.
 The test shall be carried out on a dry or wet field as specified by the manufacturer where
the conditions of the field are to be recorded.
Test Conditions
1. Size of the Area per Trial
Plowing operation shall be done in fields of not less than 250 m2 for animal-drawn, 500
m2 for two-wheel tractor-drawn and 1,000 m2 for four-wheel tractor-drawn plows. The
plot shall be rectangular in shape with sides in the ratio of 2:1 as much as possible.
2. Operational Pattern
Field capacity and field efficiency are influenced by field operational pattern which is
closely related to the size and shape of the field and the kind and size of implement. The
nonworking time should be minimized as much as possible using the recommended field
operational patterns as shown in Figure 39.

Figure 39. Recommended Field Operational Pattern

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Traveling Speed
 For four-wheel tractor-drawn plows, a traveling speed of 5 kph to 6 kph shall be maintained
during the operation.
 For two-wheel tractor-drawn plows, a traveling speed of 3 kph to 4 kph shall be maintained
during the operation.
 For animal-drawn plows, a traveling speed of 2 kph to 4 kph shall be maintained during
the operation.
Depth of Cut
 The depth of cut shall be set at 1/3 of the disc diameter for disc plow.
 The depth of cut for moldboard plow shall be set at the vertical height from the point of
share to the uppermost part of the shin as shown in Figure 40.

Figure 40. Depth of Cut for Moldboard Plow

-mounted One-way Disc Plow

Test Trials
The test shall be conducted with at least three test trials.

Headland
Depending on the tractor size, headland shall be at least 3 m in length.

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C. Measurement of Performance Parameters

Field Capacity Determination

Working Width and Depth

A depth and width meter as shown in Figure 41 shall be used in measuring the working
width and depth simultaneously for animal-drawn and tractor-drawn plows. The working depth
and width are measured by placing the tip of graduated depth scale to the plowed surface (B) and
putting a pin at point A of width scale. This procedure will be repeated for the succeeding passes
and the distance between two pins adjacent to each other is the working width and the distance
between point B and baseline for reading depth is the working depth. However, plowed surface is
not always level depending on the feature of the implement. Therefore, the tip of the depth scale
shall be placed at relatively same point in each pass.

Figure 41. Depth and Width Measurement

Verification of Operating Speed

Outside the long boundary of the test plot, two poles 20 m apart (A, B) are placed
approximately in the middle of the test plot. On the opposite side also two poles are placed in
similar position, 20 m apart (C, D) so that all four poles form corners of a rectangle, parallel to at
least one long side of the test plot. (Figure 42) The speed will be calculated from the time required

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for the tractor to travel the distance (20 m) between the assumed line connecting two poles on
opposite sides AC and BD. The easily visible point of the tractor should be selected for measuring
the time. The starting position shall be at least 2 m to 5 m from poles A and C to stabilize speed
before measuring and recording data. Tractor shall be operated at rated engine speed (rpm). The
same procedure shall be used in determining the actual operating speed for two-wheel tractor-
drawn and animal-drawn plows.

Figure 42. Measurement of Operating Speed

Soil Hardness
The soil hardness shall be measured using cone penetrometer.

Wheel Slip or Travel Reduction

The tractor drive wheel is marked with colored tape. For a given distance, the number of
revolutions of the driving wheels with load (N1) and without load (N0) shall be recorded. The
formula used in calculating wheel slip is shown in Annex E.

Fuel Consumption (Optional)

The tank is filled to full capacity before and after each test trial. The volume of fuel refilled
after the test is the fuel consumption during the test. When filling up the tank, careful attention
should be taken to keep the tank horizontal and not to leave empty space in the tank.

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Power Requirement Determination

Draft Measurement for Animal-drawn Plow (only for moldboard plow)

The plow shall be operated with the spring or strain-gauge type dynamometer inserted
between the implement yoke and the hitch of the plow as shown in Figure 33. There shall be a
minimum of three passes wherein data shall be gathered. For every 20-meter distance traveled by
the plow, five dynamometer readings shall be obtained.

Figure 43. Draft Measurement for Animal-drawn Plow

The angle the line of pull makes with the horizontal shall be measured using following
methods:

a. Trigonometric Method
The angle of pull with a draft animal shall be calculated based on the measurements as shown in
Figure 44.

Figure 44. Angle of Pull Measurement for Animal-drawn Plow

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 The pull angle shall be calculated as follows:

b. Pendulum Method
This is a method which uses the principle of the pendulum to obtain the horizontal
reference. A protractor for measuring the angle shall be placed on the hitch of the plow. It shall be
placed so that it can circularly move freely; a weight shall be suspended from the protractor to
maintain the zero of the protractor in the horizontal position. The angle shall be determined by
taking the angle that the rope makes with the horizontal.

Draft Measurement for Tractor-drawn Plow

A strain-gauge type dynamometer is attached to the front of the tractor on which the
implement is mounted. Another auxiliary tractor shall pull the implement-mounted tractor through
the dynamometer in neutral gear but with the implement in the operating position as shown in
Figure below. The draft in the measured distance of 20 m as well as the time it takes to traverse it
shall be read and recorded. On the same field, the draft in the same distance shall be read and
recorded while the implement is lifted above the ground. The difference gives the draft of the
implement.

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 Figure 45Draft Measurement for Tractor-drawn plow

Calculate the power requirement for animal-drawn and tractor-drawn plows using the
following formula:

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SOME PRIMARY TILLAGE FROM OTHER AGENCY (PhilRice)

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OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN THE PHILIPPINES – PRIMARY TILLAGE
EQUIPMENT

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SAMPLE PLOWING OPERATIONS FOR PRIMARY TILLAGE

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REFERENCES

PAES 132: 2004 - Agricultural Machinery – Disc/Moldboard Plow – Methods of Test

PAES 150:2010 - Agricultural Machinery – Subsoiler – Methods of Test

PAES 132: 2004 - Agricultural Machinery – Disc/Moldboard Plow – Methods of Test

PAES 121: 2001 - Agricultural Machinery – Disc Plow – Specifications

PAES 131: 2004 - Agricultural Machinery – Moldboard Plow – Specifications

PAES 149:2010 - Agricultural Machinery – Subsoiler– Specifications

PAES 110:2001 – Walking-type Agricultural Tractor Specificaitons Part 2: Rotary

Tilling-Type

https://www.scribd.com/document/307105130/Lecture-11-Primary-Tillage

https://kubota.com.ph/products/implements/

https://m.alibaba.com/product/60662590796/High-quality-pipe-disc-plough-

for.html?spm=a2706.amp_sc_detail.item_details#show_specifications

https://www.britannica.com/technology/agricultural-technology#ref558243

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/03/04/rice-fund-to-hike-farm-mechanization-level/

https://www.philmech.gov.ph/?page=services-machinery

https://www.carousell.ph/

https://kubota.com.ph/products/implements/dp224f-disc-plow/

https://www.yanmar.com/ph/agri/

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