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Spading proven to be significantly cheaper than ploughing

PPO-AGV, (applied plant research, http://www.ppo.wur.nl/UK/) , recently undertook research on the difference between ploughing and rotary spading on sandy soil for capacity and fuel consumption - with tremendous results: spading gives a huge saving in time and fuel consumption. 

Company results

On Sandy-, sandy loam and loamy sand the primary tillage can be done in various ways. Both the rotary plough and a s

Spading machine can be used for this purpose. Due to larger scale farming and raising fuel prices it is more and more important to look at the capacity and the fuel consumption per machine. Because choosing the best way of tillage isn’t easy, Imants B.V. gave PPO-AGV the assignment to do an independent research on the capacity of spading and ploughing.

The research 

To decide the most efficient way of tilling the soil there was a test carried out at the research station Vredepeel on sandy soil. The following objects have been used:

1. Spading, with a rotary spader from Imants 3 meter working width and at  270 mm deep.

2. Ploughing, 4-forrow with packer 23 cm deep and subsoilers 100 mm below that.

Both objects were carried out with the same 92kW tractor. The research was performed on April 4th 2005. On the plot sugar beets were seeded.

Ploughing took place with a four furrow plow. The forward speed was 4.7 m/h. Spading was done with a rotary spader of Imants type 47SP300DRH with a working width of 3 meter.. Forward speed was 3,6 M/h. The results are stated in the diagram below.

In independent research in 2005 spading has proven to have  significantly reliable less (22%) fuel consumption then ploughing and a reliable higher work rate (56%) The result are was carried out on one location in one year. The spading machine can do the headlands in one pass as well but had not been taken into the trial.

Looking at the above figures the choice between ploughing or spading should be a lot easier for farmers or contractors who calculate their costs.

  
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For more information on the trial you can contact:

PPO-AGV Vredepeel,  Mr. G. Meuffels, telefoon +31(0)478 53 82 40.

For more information on spadingmachines you can contact:

Imants b.v. Felix Peters

Pictures for printing can be obtained at felixpeters@imants.nl. www.imants.com

Rotovators
Over the years, the JNC rotary cultivator has built up a reputation as a quality machine. The central drive makes it unique, and incomparable with other rotary cultivators with side drive. It is available in a lightweight, a heavy duty, and an extra heavy model. A number of standard widths are available (80cm-210cm) and other working widths are available upon request. Because of the unique position of the blades, no cultivating pan is left. The drive case is suitable for both 540, 750, and 1000 rpm. Since there is no chain case on the side, the cultivated strips adjoin one another perfectly without channels or ridges between them. The cultivator has side panels, which extend well to the rear, and heavy-duty tailgates. This keeps the soil well contained, resulting in good level cultivation.

Center drive
The central drive casting on the cultivator ensures a solid and direct, practically maintenance-free drive. There is no chain case on the side, which means that the working width is the same as the machine width. This makes the rotary cultivator particularly suitable for use in greenhouses, for strip cultivation, and in tree nurseries.

Optional
Various accessories are available, such as cage and bar rollers, and smooth rollers. These can be manually or hydraulically adjusted in height. The JNC is small and solid, and reasonably priced.They are known for their reliable operation, low maintenance costs, and long working life.