The agricultural industry is one of the vital industries for mankind. Many agricultural products are used as sources of staple foods, such as rice and corn.
Therefore, technological innovation to help farmers is needed. One of them is the rotary plow, a modern agricultural tool used to help farmers plow the fields.
A rotary plow is a type of plow that consists of blades rotating simultaneously. Unlike other plows, the rotary plow has a special motor to move the blades.
Rotary plows are usually widely used for loose soil structures or paddy fields, found in processing fields for planting rice. The use of a rotary plow can be combined with a four-wheeled tractor or a two-wheeled tractor.
In agriculture, soil is a crucial part in the process of successful farming. Soil is the determining factor for the plants planted on, whether it can thrive or die.
The presence of nutrients in the soil is the main food ingredient for plants grown on it. Nutrients are located 30-50 cm below the soil surface. For this reason, we need for a soil reversal process by plowing, so that these nutrients come to the surface and can be reached by plants.
Soil cultivation is divided into two stages, namely the primary stage and the secondary stage.
Primary processing is usually done using a plow machine, so it is often called plowing. The purpose of primary treatment is to turn or disassemble the soil into lumps of soil.
Plowing activities are carried out as deep as 30 to 50 cm. The tools used in primary processing include mold board plows, disk plows, rotary plows, chisel plows, subsoil plows, and giant plows.
Secondary processing is carried out after plowing (primary processing) which can be interpreted as stirring the soil to a relatively shallow depth (a certain depth, i.e. 10 to 15 cm).
The tools that can be used in secondary processing are different from primary processing, consisting of harrows, subsurface tillage and field cultivation or we can use equipment in primary processing by making some modifications.
Rotary Plow Function Before and After Planting
Based on the previous explanation regarding tillage before planting, it can be concluded that the rotational plow has a function and role in primary soil cultivation as a plow, where the plowing process has the following functions:
- Creating better physical, chemical and biological soil conditions.
- Kills weeds and unwanted plants.
- Placing plant remains in a suitable place for proper decomposition.
- Reduce erosion rate.
- Leveling the ground to make work in the field easier.
- Mixing and leveling the fertilizer with the soil.
- Prepare irrigation and drainage arrangements.
All plows used in the pre-planting period have a purpose as described above, it’s just that by using a rotary plow there are benefits that will be obtained by the user, such as smoother soil preparation. It is also can be used for loose or watery land conditions.
After the planting period, the soil will usually become dry. For this reason, it is necessary to cultivate the soil before it is ready to be replanted, starting from primary to secondary processing.
Similar to plowing in the pre-harvest period, the rotary plow serves as a plow tool in primary tillage to achieve the plowing functions described above.
Rotary Plow Functions Based on Its Parts
Rotary plow is a collection of component parts that become one, the parts consist of:
- Knife
The knife is sharp and made of metal for cutting the ground. In one rotary axis, usually consists of more than 3 blades, depending on the size of the rotary plow. The blades will move together which is driven by a special driving motor.
- Rotating Shaft
The rotary shaft serves as the main shaft in rotating the rotary plow rotor.
- Rotor
The rotating shaft is where the blade is attached which will later be attached to the motor shaft.
- Back Cover
The back cover has the function of assisting in crushing the soil.
- Support Wheel
The support wheel has a function to adjust the plowing depth and make the plow constant/unchanging.
This is a simple explanation regarding the function of the rotary plow. Basically, all plows have the same function, which is to condition the soil before starting to plant crops, the difference is the type of plow itself, each of which has their own advantages and disadvantages.
Make sure you know the condition of the soil you are going to plant before choosing which type of plow to use.