Agricultural cultivator: what it is, types, application

Cultivator - this equipment, which is attached to the tractor. They loosen and level the ground before sowing, create furrows, cut weeds, deliver fertilizers into the soil. Cultivators of a special design also loosen the ground along the plants. The peculiarity is that cultivators do not turn over lumps of soil, but crush them and make the soil crumbly. The fertile layer of soil is not damaged and does not mix with the lower layers.

Cultivator construction

The cultivator consists of a metal frame with a stand, on which special tines with cutting elements are attached. The most popular are "ploskrez", which loosen the top layer of soil and cut weeds. The distance between the tines and their number varies according to the purpose. Behind the tines rollers are installed, if it is necessary to crush lumps of soil. The bar at the back of the structure levels the surface of the soil.

Types of cultivators and their application

Cultivators are classified into three types according to their purpose:

• Tillage - till the rows between the plants. The peculiarity is that a high accuracy of tractor control is required. This is needed to drive the cultivator smoothly, not to move out on the crops, and not to damage them.
• Steam (or solid) - for tillage of the field. Suitable for pre-sowing preparation of the soil, which in the previous year was not planted. They have high cross-country ability and rugged construction.
• Special - a large group of equipment, which differs in width of inter-row space, method and depth of ripping. It is used to care for fields with a variety of plants.

Universal cultivator is a special type of equipment. Its design allows you to replace the working elements, depending on what work needs to be done. It can perform the functions of steam and row models.

Specialized cultivators

Types of cultivators depending on the specific tasks:

• Milling - till the soil up to 35 cm deep, mixing it with weeds.
• Disc cultivators - loosen the surface layer of the soil so that it is enriched with air and better absorbs moisture.
• Discrete micro-increasing cultivators - used to evenly till the soil on uneven surfaces with bumps, depressions.
• Paw or lancet cultivators trim the roots of weeds and simultaneously crush clods of earth.
• Chisel ones have cutting elements in the form of narrow, sharp bars. They gently loosen the soil, preserving its natural properties.
• Foresters - work the soil with fallen branches.
• Rotary plows or "hedgehogs" - a large number of sharp parts, arranged in a special way, allows loosening hard soil.
• Spring-type - for processing little stony soil after the harvest. Thanks to the loosening of such an apparatus, the land is less overheated in the summer.

Cultivators are differentiated by the method of attachment. Mounted models are fixed on the suspended hydraulic system of the tractor. Trailed attach to the tractor, but their frame rests on its own wheels. The principle of action of the cutting elements also differs: passive models are driven by the hydraulic system, active - by the drive.