It may seem obvious, but before any test it is best to define what a particular implement is required to do. In this test we set the following parameters for our three cultivators: To loosen topsoil, incorporate stubble and any crop residues, and leave a fine and level tilth with tramlines and other wheelings obliterated. Other demands include low power inputs, simple operation, a robust design and blockage-free operation. One final requirement is, of course, for an affordable buying price.

Shallow cultivation immediately after harvest triggers chitting of volunteers and weed seeds while at the same time spreading crop residues to speed their decomposition.

After last year’s harvest, we tested specialist shallow cultivators from Horsch, Kongskilde, and Väderstad to find out how they coped with these most important tasks. Previously we have tested the performance of popular two-bank disc cultivators with winged shares, concave-disc coverers and following crumblers. This time the quest was to determine how specialist cultivators, equipped with a variety of share types and rear-following tools, perform.

For our comparison we selected three cultivators, all suitable for the shallow incorporation of straw and all fitted with depth wheels:

  • Horsch shallow cultivator FG 5.70
  • Kongskilde Vibro Flex VFM 4025
  • Väderstad Cultus 510.

The Väderstad uses 13 serrated discs, arranged at an angle, and a cultivator that features trailing harrow tines to provide further crumbling, straw incorporation and finally, levelling of tilth. On the Horsch cultivator, this job is carried out by three banks of rear-following tines, while the Vibro Flex from Kongskilde uses 13 Rotaflex rotating crumbling spades.

Our Horsch cultivator was equipped with duckfoot shares, whereas the Kongskilde and Väderstad machines opted for narrow shares. There is, however, a choice of different share types for all cultivators to suit a variety of conditions. Obviously advice from the manufacturer or dealer and a good practical demonstration will sort out the best configuration for individual farms and conditions.

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