Choosing Disc Plough Blades: A Complete Guide to Agricultural Disc Selection
As the farmer prepares the soil for planting crops, choosing a disc blade to use is an important choice.
The correct disc plough blade can mean the difference between a bountiful harvest and a mediocre crop. The world of agricultural discs offers a variety of options to suit the needs of any type of crop or soil.
In this article, YIDE tillage machinery offers a comprehensive guide to help farmers choose the right one for their specific operation. Whether used for light cultivation or heavy tillage work, the right blade can make all the difference to the overall outcome of your harvest.
There are a multitude of different discs available from leading manufacturers. Each design offers unique features to address the diverse challenges presented by various agricultural fields and conditions. Taking the time to understand the different types of agricultural discs and the tasks they are best suited for is crucial when selecting the right farm equipment.
Disc Plough vs Disc Harrow
A disk plough is a farming tool that uses big rotating disc blades to break up and flip over the soil. It’s a strong implement that is better suited for deeper soil preparation tasks like primary tilling and breaking up large clods.
Harrows, on the other hand, are more lightweight. They work better for secondary soil preparation tasks that take place closer to the surface of the ground. They are often used to smooth a field after deep ploughing and before seeding.
Key Factors to Select Agricultural Discs
Choosing the right agricultural disc for a given task depends on several factors:
- Desired depth of soil preparation
- Target degree of soil conditioning
- Weed removal and residue breaking requirements
For instance, deeper soil preparation requires more discs of larger diameter per axle than a lighter job.
The number of discs on an axle also relates to the amount of soil that will be cut up per pass. More discs will generally result in more soil pulverization and a greater chopping action.
If your field is sandy and typically dry, a lighter, compact disc harrow works well for breaking small clods and levelling the soil. These devices reduce soil clod size, help water penetrate into the ground and boost soil biota activity.
Dual Disc Harrow for Wet Soil & Heavy Residue
To further optimize your tillage outcome, consider a dual disc harrow fitted with cutout and smooth blades paired together.
This configuration performs well on wet ground or tough crop residue. The front cutting blades power through thicker material, while the rear smooth blades deliver an even field finish.
This setup is also ideal for pasture re-seeding. It can quickly break up and compress dirt and hay residue before ryegrass seeding. No second pass with a bedding hipper or roller is required.