Kverneland’s latest reversible plough literally and figuratively breaks new ground, thanks to its ISObus control. Does this extra complication bring genuine advantages in the field?
Last autumn we spent time turning over a range of soil types with a preproduction I-Plough in five-furrow form. That’s one option; the base unit can have four, five or six furrows and be pulled by tractors up to 280hp. The tractor itself need not be ISObus-equipped, as the company’s own IsoMatch Tellus Pro or Tellus Go displays are on hand for control. Breakback control can be by shear bolt — which explains the ‘B’ in the model name — or by leaf spring, the latter allowing auto-reset. The test plough arrived with number 28 boards, knock-on points, maize skimmers and disc coulters for the last body pair. Performance can readily be summed up:
■■ We had absolutely no complaints with the control system’s ability to keep work straight
■■ At 450mm furrow width and working 250mm deep, the bodies supplied cleared out the furrow bottom well. Alternatives are offered for wider/deeper work
■■ Steep-pitched points provided ready penetration. All residues — including maize stalks — were buried effectively. The rear disc didn’t need to be taken off and the plough didn’t block
■■ Most of the time the I-Plough was behind a New Holland T6.175, whose 145hp (rated) and 175hp (max) had no problem pulling it in any terrain, perhaps helped by mouldboard design
For more up-to-date farming news click here and subscribe now to profi and save
