While adverse weather events have forced farmers and contractors to reconsider cultivations as a bespoke operation for each field and crop, the desire to minimise soil movement remains. We spoke to several manufacturers about what dictates cultivation.
Part of the difficulty of talking about cultivation is how to define each aspect. What separates shallow and deep cultivation will depend on a variety of factors. Many machines designed for shallow cultivation will work deeper than some may require, while those designed to properly mix the soil profile can be run closer to the surface.
With this in mind, we have approached the topic from a minimum-tillage perspective. The assumption is that the machines and methods discussed will be suitable for a single pass, either to chit weeds and volunteers and create a stale seedbed, or to create a suitable tilth ahead of the drill.
According to Shaun Kent, national sales development manager at Pöttinger UK, shallow cultivation always comes with some level of compromise – most notably that going too shallow can leave compacted soil within the wheelings. “You really need to ask yourself, ‘what am I trying to achieve with this pass?’”
As such, the Pöttinger range is based around adjustment – the ability to switch from shallow to medium-depth cultivation as conditions dictate. The Plano can work down to 15cm if required. Available as a 6m trailed machine, the tine cultivator is often specified with A-share points, enabling weed roots to be cut and the whole surface area of the soil to be tilled, even when working as shallow as 3cm.
“In the UK the most popular setup is levelling boards at the front to break down clods in the field,” Shaun says. “This also makes it ideal for second-pass cultivations if farms have ploughed to reset the field. If not required, these can hydraulically lift out of work.”
He adds that one of the company’s most popular cultivators is the trailed TerraDisc T disc harrow – specifically the 5m version. These can work down from depths of 5cm, with scalloped discs to maximise soil movement in the working area. The trailed specification also minimises the horsepower requirement, enabling high work rates.
In both cases, Shaun says that fertiliser and cover crop applications have become increasingly popular.
“As much as growers want control over cultivation depth, they also really appreciate the ability to apply fertiliser in the same pass at a targeted depth, which is something we can facilitate either with a Tegosem mounted box, or the Amico F front hopper.”
No silver bullet
Horsch recognises the need for a wide range of equipment, according to Stephen Burcham, general manager of Horsch UK. “There isn’t one tool that will suit everyone. Soil type, crop residues and rotation all make a difference to what is required, not to mention the weather conditions at the time.”
He says growers need to consider the combine harvester as the first pass in any establishment regime, as this will dictate much of what follows. “More customers are moving towards reduced-traffic farming or full controlled-traffic farming, but if harvest conditions are not optimal, you can be left with a lot of deep wheelings that will need rectifying.”
Similarly, if straw is chopped and spread, cultivations will need to be adjusted to accommodate the increased amount of organic matter being incorporated. “Our own internal tests showed that while a disc cultivator will effectively till the soil, the length and tine layout of our Cruiser models moved residue further down the field; evening it out and mixing it with the topsoil.”
Yet, while there is no silver bullet when it comes to tillage, Stephen notes that growers are looking for more versatility. The Terrano would not be considered a shallow cultivator, as it can work down to 30cm, yet with the 40cm TerraCut wing it can work just under the soil surface, cutting weed and volunteer roots for a clean seedbed.
“Understanding what the desired outcome is will inform every decision you make, from the type of cultivator to the choice of discs or tines and points,” he says. “The aim is to minimise passes and therefore costs, while maintaining soil health and yield.”
Moving away from combinations
Marcus Ainley, product specialist at Kuhn Farm Machinery, agrees that customer demand is shifting towards individual, versatile machines to suit the prevalent conditions on farm. “Probably a decade ago, we were seeing greater interest in combination disc and tine machines. Now we see output and finish being the driving factors.”
He adds that the ongoing shift to zero tillage and the increased interest in direct drills have also changed demand for cultivators – although not negatively. “As people have moved to zero tillage, they have noticed that in some conditions those drills need some tilth to work effectively, so a shallow pass to move the soil and kickstart the biology in the soil is becoming the norm.”
He describes the tine cultivator as an active unit that is more aggressive and mixes the soil profile to remove areas of compaction. A disc cultivator is passive, but has benefits in cutting and mixing residues. Continued use of these can create a pan just below the cultivation depth, which could require remedial work with a subsoiler or tined unit.
When asked about the potential for more precision farming systems to come into cultivation operations, Marcus points to the Smart Soil Technology Isobus system on the 6m and 7.5m Optimer, with Steady Control to automatically adjust wing pressure based on the topography.
“The Isobus system means depth can be changed quickly from the cab and on the move, and it can be combined with Task Controller to use prescription depth control maps. Combined with Steady Control, the basic version means skilled operators can make adjustments based on field conditions or soil type, without worrying about an uneven finish.”
Zero to minimum tillage
Samagri imports and distributes the Kockerling range of cultivators and drills, and sales manager Nigel Long has seen a shift in customer demand over the past few years. “Those with direct drills are seeing that a little bit of tilth can be required before they can go in with the drill,” he says. “A shallow cultivator can spread out crop residue and create this shallow tilth to aid the drill closing the slot on the more difficult soil types.”
He adds that development has been focused on differing soil types and higher levels of organic matter. The newest Allrounder Profiline 9m and 12m machines can be specified with knife rollers, enabling them to work more effectively in tall cover crops or stubbles. And hydraulic depth adjustment has been available across the Allrounder range for a long time.
“Having in-cab adjustment means a skilled operator can adapt the cultivator to the conditions,” he says. “This can mean going deeper as they move across the field to remedy compaction, or starting a little deeper and lifting the machine gradually to find the shallowest point where the soil is still being moved.”
Added to this is the company’s Digital Depth Control, available on certain machines. Operators can set a depth where the cultivator is to work and can then see on the in-cab display how deep the machine is working in centimetres. “This will give more confidence that the machine is working to the correct depth, and allow inexperienced operators to be trained up with a visual guide,” he says.
Habitat control
A machine that toes the line between a residue management system and a cultivator is Dalbo’s Powerchain. Available in working widths from 5m to 12m and designed for speeds up to 12kph, it comprises four chains laid out in a diamond pattern, each fitted with a series of discs that chop through residues and till the first 5cm of topsoil.
Simon Cowley, UK general manager, says it was initially difficult to find a place in the UK market for the machine, but the increased interest in cover crops has presented a niche. “In many ways, it is replacing the old-fashioned rotovator,” he says. “It chops the residues and then incorporates it into the soil.”
Concerns over pests crossing over from maize and oilseed rape stems have also increased interest. The chopping action is reportedly very effective at destroying these habitats and leaving behind a tilth suitable for drilling.
Developments continue as well. Weights are now available, with Simon noting that these would normally be placed on the front of the machine to increase penetration and soil movement, while the following discs remain unweighted for a levelling effect.
“We have also introduced a rear flex system on models from 8m wide, which enables the machine to pivot +/-7deg on undulating ground, and the chains are hydraulically adjustable to ensure all discs remain engaged,” Simon explains.
To maximise the cutting potential of the machine, the latest development is the turbine disc. This can be alternated with standard discs, or used at the rear of the machine to chop and lift grass leys, or improve the breakdown of arable crops such as maize and oilseed.
Driven by climate
“The climate dictates everything when it comes to cultivation,” says Philip Stephenson, sales manager at Sumo. “However, this year there will be a lot of consideration given to the price of fuel. We’re still selling deep cultivators, but interest continues to grow in our shallow-working machines.”
He points to the MixiDisc high-speed disc cultivator, noting that the 5m, 6m and 7m trailed machines are the most popular in the UK. Each feature independently mounted discs, with variable adjustment and hydraulic levelling. “It is designed for high working speeds, with a good amount of weight to ensure good soil contact at all times,” he says.
Philip adds that the machine has been successful in primary passes after harvest, with the snaking layout of the discs capable of managing high levels of residues, while also promoting a flush of weeds and volunteers ahead of drilling. “It’s a machine best suited to drier conditions, and fields where you want to preserve that moisture in the soil,” he says.
For heavier soils, he recommends the Vaxio with cutting discs for good trash handling and a series of sprung tines, which can be equipped with A-shares for shallow working.
Each tine has a breakout of 3,500kg, making it capable of breaking up compacted or heavy soils, while the row of levelling boards and rear packer is said to leave behind friable soils that hold on to moisture for drilling.
“Our range can also be fitted with seed and fertiliser applications, meaning growers can minimise passes or establish green manures to help with soil structure,” he says.
More intensive is the new T-Press, which the company launched at Lamma. It uses two rows of heavy-duty tines, capable of working down to 15cm. They can be lifted out of work if only surface-level action is required. Levelling boards break down clods and the ground is consolidated by a double packer roller.
Three brands for three circumstances
Glenn Bootman, product manager at Opico for the HE-VA, Alpego and Ovlac brands, says fashions continue to go round in circles in agriculture.
Difficult conditions due to a couple of wet winters, creating unsatisfactory soil structure resulting in poorer drainage and, in worst-case scenarios, standing water, which has led to some move back towards deeper cultivations to create drainage channels through the subsoil.
However, some of the best-selling machines remain short disc harrows, designed to work in the top 5cm of the soil. “Many growers will use these as the first pass behind the combine to get a chit and keep on top of grassweed populations,” he says.
The 6.25m Disc Roller Contour is said to be the most popular model in the UK, and Glenn highlights the flatter disc design when compared to some competing models.
He says this not only enables the machine to work effectively at shallow depths, but also improves soil movement as it shears off and pushes soil to the side. This is complemented by the fact the scallops in the disc are shallower, reducing the need to work deeper while still moving the soil across the full working width.
A change in mindset
While there is often a clear idea of what a shallow cultivator is, Glenn is keen to suggest other machines that will provide the desired effect. One of these is the Alpego Inversa, which is currently available in widths up to 5m. Despite being better known as a stone-picking machine, with the rotor running in reverse to a typical rotovator, he says it has been successful in restoring grassland into arable systems.
“It can run at depths as shallow as 5cm and effectively mixes organic matter and topsoil. We have trialled it in grassland, but it could easily be put to work in cover crops,” Glenn says.
Despite it being a powered implement, he adds that the power requirement is less than expected. “If you’re working shallow, then the 5m machine can run on as little as 180hp.”
Also distributed by Opico is the Ovlac shallow plough, though Glenn says that title is something of a misnomer. “It is more like a high-output inversion tool. You can get the ploughed effect, while working wider and faster than a conventional mouldboard plough, along with greater fuel efficiency, which makes it an ideal choice for growers who want to quickly turn and invert organic matter and crop stubbles without affecting the full soil profile.”
Building versatility into your systems
Recognising the pressure on costs now, Mike Bywater, Sales & Marketing Manager for Maschio Gaspardo UK, says that the focus for growers should be on building a system that can ensure good establishment, regardless of conditions.
“People need to have that versatility so that they can get a crop in the ground no matter what the soil type, no matter where in the rotation they are,” he says.
He points to the range of machines that Maschio Gaspardo will showcase at Cereals. A 6m Veloce trailed high-speed disc harrow for shallow cultivations, an Attila subsoiler for medium to deep cultivation or a Gregoire Besson Rover 80 7 furrow fully mounted plough, all of which will work with a Maschio Gaspardo power harrow combination drill.
“With the difficult weather over the last couple of years, more people have moved back to combination drills to get the seed in the soil, and we want to show that we have a range of systems to work alongside,” Mike explains.
And while we think of shallow cultivation, we often think of a disc harrow, he says that the power harrow can be a suitable tool. “Power harrows can work exceptionally shallow, which will reduce the fuel consumption and power requirement,” he says. “Not only that, but they will also work in a range of conditions where other types of cultivators may struggle. It doesn’t matter whether you’re working the top couple of centimetres for cereals, or going significantly deeper to give maize or oilseed rape roots a chance.”
It’s also here where he sees the most potential for advanced technology. “A system like Tractor Implement Management would work well on a power harrow, because you can measure the load on the gearbox. If you hit a more compacted area of the field, the machine can then tell the tractor to slow down, and speed up when conditions are lighter.”
Required cultivations
If figuring out what constitutes ‘shallow’ cultivation is like asking how long a piece of string is, Adam Burt, product manager at Kverneland, is seeing customers take a less prescriptive view.
“After a couple of difficult seasons, we have definitely seen more people separate themselves from stringent regimes, and look at what is required in each field, depending on the rotation, weather conditions and areas of compaction.”
As such, the majority of the Turbo and Enduro tined cultivators have been sold with at least two sets of points. With the knock-on quick-change system, Adam says growers can easily adjust the working depth and effect of the cultivator, whether working on compacted headlands and tramlines or simply mixing and lifting the topsoil in the main area of the field.
“Our Turbo machine can work down from 3cm to 20cm, while the Enduro can work down to 30cm. There is a need for multiple tools, but by making our machines as versatile as possible, growers can get the desired effect in a cost-effective manner,” he says.
Kverneland has also adopted precision technology with its Turbo machine. Automatic depth control is facilitated through the Isobus system and can be linked to soil compaction maps. This means that as the operator travels across the field, the machine will automatically adjust the depth to break up differing levels of compaction.
There are limitations to this, as significant changes would require a change in points, but Adam says for most conditions this will enable part fields to get the required level of cultivation.
“We have the technology available on our machines, and take-up will be based on how quickly compaction mapping software becomes widely used,” he says.
Block by block, field by field
Oliver Watson, sales manager at Amazone, agrees that customers are now more conscious than ever about their input costs, and have moved away from regimated practices in a bid to limit costs and preserve yield.
“The conversations I am having are much more targeted, with growers looking at blocks of their farm and sometimes even specific fields,” he says.
“Those who were direct drilling are noticing that some tilth is needed, especially during a tricky season, and the continuing blackgrass pressure is forcing some to go back to stale seedbeds.”
He defines shallow cultivation as between 2cm and 10cm, and points to Amazone’s Catros compact disc harrow and Cobra tine cultivators as ideal for these conditions. He also notes that away from cereal crops, there are efforts to minimise soil movement when possible. “Some beet growers are looking to move away from the plough and power harrow. This would look very different to shallow cultivation in cereals, but shows how systems are adapted to suit the conditions.”
Residues are also key, and those looking to go ultra-shallow (less than 2cm) have to keep this in mind. Amazone offers the TopCut knife roller/straw harrow combination, which can handle straw, organic manures and cover crops while creating a very shallow tilth for the direct drill to work in. “When growers do want to work closer to that 10cm mark, we can add the knife roller to many of our machines to break down and fully incorporate trash and residues.”
Losing both ways
Tom Wyles, marketing coordinator at Väderstad, says the most important thing for growers is to understand what they need to do to get a profitable crop. “The cost of fuel at the moment will make many consider moving to shallow cultivations, but if there is a pan, or the soil isn’t ready for that, this could jeopardise the crop.”
He adds that customers do want to have those conversations, and Väderstad is able to meet requirements by having a wider range of machines, with a level of versatility with each one.
“The Carrier is still our most popular machine, but we can fit it with a variety of disc types and sizes to suit the conditions, or fit a knife roller to the front to handle crop residues and green manures. It means growers can purchase one machine and fit it within different parts of the rotation,” he says.
Väderstad has also done significant work on precision systems, enabling its TopDown combination cultivator to adjust depths automatically based on soil maps. “It works well here because each of the four elements can be individually controlled. The technology is there, we are waiting for the software to become more widely available, and we are seeing a lot of interest in.”