Efficiency in soil preparation: Willie Houbraken's new spading machine

Efficiency is crucial in modern agriculture. We spoke to Willie Houbraken about his new spading machine for his contract spraying and arable farming business in Bergeijk. He grows potatoes, sugar beets, carrots, winter wheat, corn, and onions on approximately 90 hectares of sandy soil. He believed that soil cultivation could be made even more efficient. In the past, he had some reservations about spading due to weed pressure and the feeling that the spading machine would make the soil too fine. After a demonstration and a comparison test between plowing and digging, Willie was immediately convinced and purchased a digging machine with a front cultivator. He highlights the advantages of digging over plowing, how this method contributes to better soil quality and time savings, and a more consistent and better yield. 

Time savings and efficiency

One of the biggest advantages of a spading machine is the considerable time savings. "Previously, I did everything with plowing, cultivators, and a furrow packer. For soil at greater distances, we actually had to go there twice as a rule. First to plow the soil and then to close the furrows. With the spading machine, we have saved a few passes. This also means that the soil dries out less and we can leave the green manure in the ground longer to make better use of it."

By performing fewer operations, he not only saves time, but also fuel and labor. “In terms of fuel consumption, spading uses around 19 liters per hectare, while plowing uses around 25-27 liters per hectare,” says Willie. This difference can result in significant cost savings in the long term.

More capacity

Thanks to his new spading machine, Willie Houbraken now has 30% more capacity than before. That's quite a lot. "And we haven't even mentioned the savings on raw materials, which provide additional benefits. That's also the great thing about working with Imants; they clearly show what their machines can deliver. They take our current working methods into account, so that the difference is really clear.“

Better soil structure and crop emergence

“During the demo, I saw that the spading machine created a nice, even seedbed. This ensures that every seed is at the same depth.” This is especially important for crops such as beets and onions, where uniform emergence is essential for a successful harvest. Spading also helps to distribute lime and fertilizer evenly, which contributes to better nutrient distribution in the soil. It can also help reduce soil erosion.

“With more organic material at the top of the soil, you actually have less chance of the soil becoming dusty. You also have less chance of the soil immediately becoming compacted after a heavy rain shower,” Willie notes. This helps protect the soil and ensure the sustainability of the agricultural land.

Weeds

In the past, it was sometimes said that digging causes more weeds. Houbraken disagrees: “I think the amount of weeds stays the same. They're always there. Digging just makes them more homogeneous. In addition, the flat seedbed created by digging allows us to target the weeds more effectively when spraying compared to plowing.”

The differences between digging and plowing

Although plowing is a traditional method, it has some disadvantages compared to digging. Plowing turns the topsoil upside down, which can lead to an uneven distribution of organic material. "With a plow, we also drive the tractor's tires over part of the already plowed soil. You don't really want that. In addition, plowing often leaves larger clumps in the soil, which can worsen sowing conditions." By working the soil in a less intensive way, overall soil health is improved, which is essential for the long-term productivity of agricultural land.

“All in all, it's a great partnership with Imants that saves us a lot of time and money. I would definitely recommend Imants to other arable farmers. They deliver good machines, service, and quality.”

Translated from Dutch