LECTURE 10

EARTH MOVING MACHINERY

FMP 514, 2(1-1)
TILLAGE IMPLEMENTS

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 Secondary tillage implements
These implements are used after primary tillage
implements mainly to cut and pulverize the soil and to
some extend invert the soil.
The secondary implements work at comparatively shallow
depths ranging from 3 to 6 inches.
Secondary tillage implements are;

i. Disc harrow
ii. Bar harrow
iii. Tine cultivator
iv. Sweep cultivator
v. Rotavators

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 Secondary Tillage Implements
1.Disk Harrow:
Disc harrow is similar in shape as disc plow except they
are smaller in size. Five or six disks are mounted on one
axle to make a gang. The concavity of disk harrow is less
as compared to disk plow, which results into less soil
inversion and more pulverization.

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 Disc Harrow
Disc harrows are general purpose tillage tool as their 2
passes are just equivalent to 5 passes of tine cultivator.
Uses:
➢ It is used after plowing to cut up vegetative matter that
may be on the surface, such as stalks, cotton stalks and
weeds, and to pulverize the soil.
➢ It is used after plowing to pulverize the soil to put in
better tilth for the reception of the seed.
➢ It is used for cultivating of crops.
➢ It is used for summer fallowing (ploughed but left
unsown).
➢ When seeds are broadcasted, it is used to cover them.
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 Disc Harrow
The size, weight, spacing, depth, and angles of the disks are
selected based on the field conditions and the purpose
of disking. Disk diameters range from 40 to 80 cm, and
weights range from 20 to 200 kg/disk. Disking with
larger disks should be followed by lighter disks for
final seedbed preparation. Disk spacing increases with
disk diameter. Narrow disk spacing of about 18 cm is
used for final seedbed preparation when the ground is
not hard with little surface residue. Disk spacing of
about 23 cm is used for mixing of chemicals or cutting
of surface trash.

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 Disc Harrow
Spacing of about 28 cm and higher is needed for harder
soils or when heavy surface residue is present. The
operating depth is determined by the soil conditions
and the weight per unit disk of the plow. The gang
angle varies from 15° to 35° as measured from a line
perpendicular to the line of travel. Gang angles may be
changed to meet the field conditions. Increasing the
gang angle makes the disks more aggressive,
increasing their depth and power requirement.

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 Types of Disk Harrow
The gangs of disk harrow may be arranged to form
following types;
• Single acting disk harrow
• Double acting disk harrow
• Off-set disk harrow

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Double Acting Disc Harrow

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 Single acting disk harrow
➢ It consist of two sets of
gangs of disks (one set to
the left and other to the
right).
➢ The left-hand gang will
throw soil to the left- and
right-hand gang will throw
soil to the right i.e. in
opposite direction.
➢ This type of soil, therefore,
throws the soil outwards.
➢ It leaves the field in an
uneven condition.
Double acting disk harrow
➢ It consists of front
and rear gangs of
disks.
➢ The front gangs throw
the soil outward while
the rear gangs throw
the soil inward.
➢ The implement will
pulverize the soil
better and leave the
field almost even.
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 Off-set disk harrow
➢ It consist of two gangs of disks, off-set from line of
pull.
➢ The front gang throws the soil to the right and the
rear gang to the left.
➢ This type of harrow can be used in gardens with low
hanging branches of trees.
➢ It leaves the soil better.

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 2. Cultivator
Important Features:
➢ It is just like chisel plow except that it is light in
construction.
➢ It goes to a shallow depth.
➢ It breaks clods and pulverizes the soil.
➢ If narrow tines are used, the soil between the tines is
skipped, therefore a greater number of operations are
required.

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 Tine Cultivator
➢ This implement does not invert the soil.
➢ A greater number of tines (from 9-17) may be used
with field cultivator depending upon size of cultivator.
These are classified into two categories;
i. Rigid tine cultivator
ii Spring tine cultivator (These are preferred as they
absorb shocks when hit an obstruction)
The depth of operation may be altered by;
➢ Changing the position of shovel on the tines by raising
or lowering it.
➢ Changing the pitch by means of the top link (in case of
mounted cultivator).
➢ Using the land wheel.
➢ Using the hydraulic system of the tractor
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Spring tine cultivator

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Rigid tine cultivator

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 Sweep Cultivator
Important Features:
➢ It is just like a narrow tine cultivator but instead of
narrow tines, sweep shovels are used.
➢ With the use of sweep shovels, no soil is skipped.
➢ Other features are the same as those of narrow tine
cultivator.
Note:
Narrow tine cultivator and sweep tine cultivator are
used for secondary tillage as well as for intercultural
operation.

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Sweep Cultivator

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Tools for Cultivator

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 Bar Harrow
The bar harrow are of two types;
i. Spike tooth bar harrow ii. Spring tooth bar harrow
Spike tooth bar harrow:
➢ It consists of sections.
➢ The width of section is usually from 1.5-2.0m.
➢ The section is rectangular in shape, containing the rods
on which pegs or spikes are mounted or welded.
➢ The thickness of peg varies from 0.25 to 0.75inches.
➢ The pegs are made of heat-treated steel and may be
replaced or sharpened when worn out.
➢ The pegs are slightly tilted from vertical.
➢ No. of pegs in a section varies from 20-30
➢ Length of peg is around 9inches. 19
 Uses of Bar Harrow

➢ It breaks crust of soil formed by beating action of rain

and reduce the compaction occurred by human, animal
or machinery.
➢ It smooth and levels soil surface to some extent.
➢ It stirs soil.
➢ It covers the seed of broadcast.
➢ It penetrates to a depth of about 5cm.
➢ It can mix up the manure.
➢ It can be used for intercultural operation.

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Bar Harrow

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 Spring tooth harrow
➢ It consists of section on which curved bars are mounted.
➢ The thickness of the curved bar is 0.25 to 0.50 inches.
➢ The curved bar is made of spring steel.
➢ The number of curved bars in a section is around 12.
➢ The number of sections may vary according to horsepower
available.
➢ The length of curved bars may be up to 10 inches.

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 Spring Tooth Harrow Uses

➢ Because of spring action, it can move easily on rocks

and stones.
➢ Because of curved bars it can pull out weeds.
➢ It can break up crust.
➢ It is used to increase moisture retention capacity of soil.
➢ It pulverizes the soil to greater extent.

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Sections in Harrows

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Thank you!