Deep-Plowing Soil Pulverizer

Deep-Plowing Soil Pulverizer TILLAGE EUIPMENT Plows 6-4-8 If you've got hardpan or severe soil compaction problems, you'll be interested in a new deep plow that not only works down to a depth of more than 3 ft. but also breaks up and pulverizes the soil with moveable shares. "Many soils around the world have become so compacted due to big tillage equipment that they have insufficient water storage capacity and often suffer erosion damage on the surface, resulting in considerable crop losses," says Johannes S. Bahr, export representative for Kaeble-Gmeinder, manufacturer of the new plow. "The hydraulically operated moveable shares break up the soil so that it has more water holding capability, yet standing water drains away quickly, in many cases eliminating the need for drainage systems. The plow also leaves small underground furrows that, when worked transversely across hillsides, hold water like small underground terraces. The special ripper shares on the new plow are powered by a rotating shaft on the plow frame and connected to driveshafts down the front of each shank. As the shares move out and down, they begin loosening the solidified ground. When it comes back up, it lifts the soil upwards, pulverizing it all the way to the surface. "Besides breaking up the soil, the powered shares also lessen the plow's horsepower requirements by lessening the forward resistance," says Bahr, noting that a 130 to 160 hp. crawler tractor is recommended to pull the 3-shank plow, which is 8-ft. wide. Bahr says that the plow has been proven in countries throughout the world and can be used every year or every other year, depending on the area and the soil type. Although the unit is designed for crawler tractors, Bahr says it's possible it could be adapted to larger farm tractors. Sells for $54,000 in West Germany. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Johannes S. Bahr, Kaeble-Gmeinder, P.O. Box 1320, D-7150 Dacknang, West Germany (ph 07191 8931).

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