LECTURE 9

EARTH MOVING MACHINERY

FMP 514, 2(1-1)
 Primary tillage implements:
These implements are used for initial/major soil working
operation. They are normally designed to cut and invert the
soil and thereby reduce soil strength, cover plant materials
and rearrange aggregates. The primary implements are
given as;

i.Mold board plow (MB plow)

ii.Disc plow
iii.Chisel plow
iv.Sub-soiler

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2. Disc Plow

It has similar functions as M.B. Plow, but disk plow is

preferred in stony, rocky, and sticky soils (Clay soil)
because the disk rolls over the stones. Due to rolling action
of disks, the soil that is stuck with discs is removed
automatically.

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Advantages
It is used in stony and Disadvantages:
It does not turn and pulverize
rocky areas the soil so effectively as
mould board plow
In obstruction, this plow It does not cover vegetation
will ride over. and trash effectively
In sticky soils (Clay) the It is more costly
soil would be removed Since it goes to deeper depth,
and cleaned by rolling it requires more horsepower.
action of disk. It leaves the soil cloddy and
It penetrate deeper than rougher.
mould board plow
Its maintenance cost is
less since there are no
share or shin
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 Design and Construction
 It consists of round, concave, heat treated disks with
sharp edges in order to cut the soil.
 Diameter of disks varies from 20-40 inches(50-100 cm).
 Size of plow is specified by diameter of disk.
 Thickness of disk varies from 0.5cm to 1.0cm.
 The disks are placed 22.5-30cm apart.

Disc and Tilt angle:

The disks when fitted have two angles;
(1) Disk angle:
The disk blades are set at an angle from the forward line of
travel called the disk angle. It varies from 42 to 45
degree. It controls the width of the furrow as well as
degree of pulverization. 5
(2) Tilt angle:
The angle of disk from the vertical line is called the tilt
angle.
It varies from 15 to 25 degree. It controls the depth of
penetration.

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 Disc Plow
Under most conditions, and particularly in hard, dry soils,
any disk tool must be forced into the ground by its
weight rather than depending upon suction as does a
moldboard plow.
Consequently, disk plows are built with heavy frames and
wheels (total masses of 180 to 540 kg/disk blade), and
even then additional mass must sometimes be added to
obtain a desired depth.
The soil penetration ability of a disk plow depends upon
disk diameter, tilt angle, and disk angle. Whereas the
moldboard plow absorbs side forces mainly through
the landsides, a disk plow must depend upon its wheels
for this purpose.

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 Disc Plow
A standard disk plow does not have special attachments to
protect its disk blades from damage due to impact with
rocks buried in the soil. Usually, the disk plow is able
to withstand impact forces because of its heavy frame
and its lower operating speed.

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Disc Plow

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Disc Plow

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 Chisel Plow:
The implement such as mold board plow, disk plow work
in topsoil but chisel plow is used for subsurface tillage.
Features:
• Chisel plow goes up to a depth of 25-38cm.
• In erodible soils the chisel plow has been considered the
best to overcome the problem of run-off.
• It consist of two and three shanks fixed to a box type
structure.
• The shank may be straight, curved, or tapered.
•It works in hard pan below level of plowing.

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 Chisel Plow:
The implement such as mold board plow, disk plow work
in topsoil but chisel plow is used for subsurface tillage.
Features:
• They shatter, mix, and aerate the soil with little soil
inversion. They leave a rough soil surface with most of the
plant residue remaining uncovered. This condition helps
prevent wind and water erosion while improving water
penetration into the soil, and the plant residue on the soil
surface improves traction.
•Chisel plows function most effectively when the soil is
dry and firm because the tools can pass through wet soil
with almost no shattering action.
•The shanks are designed with spring-cushion, spring-
reset, or spring-trip mountings to protect the tool and
frame from impacts with buried rocks. 12
Chisel Plow

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Chisel Plow

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 Sub-Soiler:
• It is identical in shape to a chisel plow except that a
single shank is used.
• It works up to a depth of 100 cm.
• It goes much deeper.
• It is simple and ridge in construction.
• It is operated in sub-soil below to break hard pan and
make soil suitable for root development.
• It is usually operated after 3-5 years.
• It should be operated in dry and hard land, if it is
operated in wet soil, it will produce a compacted path
in soil.
• The horsepower required to pull sub soiler is 65-
85hp.
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 Sub-Soiler:
• It do very little soil mixing and no soil inversion.
• It is most effective under dry and firm soil conditions.
• It frequently rely on the heavy design of the frame
and standards for protection during impact with
buried rocks.

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Sub-Soiler

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 Subsurface plow
• Mole drains are unlined tunnels (mole channels) in
the clay subsoil formed by a mole plow. A mole plow
is composed of a shank (leg) attached to a cylindrical
bullet followed by a cylindrical expander. The process
of pulling the mole plow results in soil cracks.

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 Subsurface plow
• In soil where surface drainage is insufficient for
addressing excess water problems and installing
subsurface (tile) drainage is uneconomical due to low
crop income, mole drains are an inexpensive means to
drain excess water from the soil profile.
• In heavy clay soil with low permeability, mole drains
can drain excess water from the soil profile. Mole
drains can be combined with subsurface drainage to
improve drainage performance in heavy clay soil.

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Subsurface plow

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Thank you!