How to choose a potato planter for a walk-behind tractor
Today there are many types of agricultural machinery that can simplify the cultivation of vegetables. We will talk about the technique used when growing potatoes, namely the potato planter. Consider how a potato planter for a walk-behind tractor looks like and how it works. Let's also talk about what types of potato planters exist and how they differ.
Choosing a potato planter for a walk-behind tractor
Principle of operation
Before talking about the principle of the potato planter, let's talk about its advantages. This technique helps to quickly plant a large area. All planting material is laid at the same depth. The rows are even, and the width between the bushes is the same. This makes it easier to care for the seedlings, and makes it possible to use specialized equipment for harvesting.
In general, all potato planters for a walk-behind tractor are similar to each other. They are equipped with a hopper containing planting material. It can be rectangular or tapered. Wheels are attached to the frame to help the unit move on the ground. They are a miniature analogue of tractor wheels. A plow and a disc tiller are attached to the structure. Some models are equipped with an additional fertilizer hopper.
As for the principle of operation, the potato planter for the walk-behind tractor performs several tasks in turn. The device of any potato planter is the same. Unit sizes and functionality differ. With the help of a plow (opener), a furrow of a certain depth is created in the soil. Then, the planting material is placed in the made furrow at a certain interval. After that, with the help of a hiller, the furrow is closed with earth. In other words, the potato planter combines 3 types of attachments. Some models, in addition to planting material, place fertilizer in the furrow before seeding the soil.
Varieties of potato planters
There is a classification of potato planters
Depending on its performance
- easy
- average
- heavy
- superheavy
Lungs include small devices that plant 1 row of potatoes in one approach.
Medium devices can be used with a walk-behind tractor or a mini-tractor. Many of them plant 2 rows of potatoes at the same time.
Heavy and super heavy structures are designed for planting about 4 and 6 rows of potatoes at the same time.
Depending on the type of coupling
- hinged
- trailed
- semi-mounted
Depending on the type of wheels
- equestrian
- tractor
Choosing a potato planter
Choose the equipment that suits you
To plant potatoes with a potato planter into a pleasant procedure, you need to choose the right equipment. What points are worth paying attention to, and which are not particularly important?
- Mechanism for picking up tubers from the bunker. The tubers are transported from the hopper on a chain or belt. Give preference to belt-type models.Vibrations are present during unit operation. With strong vibrations, the chain begins to dangle. As a result, tubers, located in special holes - plates, fall out, and many voids are formed during planting. Before sprouting, it will not work to determine where there are voids, and after sprouting it is not advisable to plant potatoes. It is difficult to care for a vegetable patch planted at different times. There are no such problems when using a bed planter.
- Transport wheels. Few people pay attention to this detail, but in vain. They are needed so that the unit can be easily deployed. In addition, the presence of transport wheels makes it possible not to turn off the engine during a turn.
- Multiple speeds. This function is needed in order to adjust the distance between the bushes. The higher the speed of the unit, the wider the width between the bushes will be.
- Adjustable furrow cutter. Another feature that many do not pay attention to. Do not forget that a potato planter, no matter small-sized or industrial, can be used to work with other crops. The main thing is that the planting material is placed in plates (swallows). It can be garlic, onion sets. And the planting depth of different crops is different.
- Bowl (bucket) volume. Here we make a choice based on how much potatoes are planned to be grown. For a small farm, the best option is 20 liters, for a medium-sized farm - 40 liters. There are medium sizes (25,3,35 l). If you need to provide a family of 3-4 people with potatoes, then it is not advisable to purchase more than 25 liters of equipment.
- When choosing a technique, we take into account the type of soil with which you have to work. When processing loose soils, it is advisable to use a technique that has a sufficiently large gap between the ground and the bottom. You need to work on hard soils with heavy equipment. If virgin soil is cultivated, choose a massive potato planter with narrow wheels. It makes sense to install a reduction gear on the cultivator. This will increase the tractive effort.
- It is worth paying attention to the cost of the equipment. Cheap models cannot be made from quality parts. Also, the pricing policy depends on the capabilities of the technology. A four-row potato planter is several times more expensive than a two-row one. But, for a subsidiary farm, a 2-row one will also do. It is advisable to acquire heavy and superheavy structures when it comes to the industrial cultivation of potatoes.
- The last point worth paying attention to is the disc tiller. It must be adjustable. It is important that both the immersion depth of the discs and the width between the discs are regulated. Better that there are not 2 possible options, but 3-4. The adjustable width between the discs allows the equipment to be used for planting multiple crops.
You can find a high-quality potato planter for a walk-behind tractor at an affordable price in Izhevsk, Orel, Kiev, Vinnitsa, Khmelnytsky and Poltava regions.
You can additionally purchase a fertilizer metering device designed to apply fertilizers during planting. There is no universal model today. Therefore, you need to choose additional equipment for a specific model of a potato planter.
Self-made units are suitable exclusively for processing small areas. They, as a rule, wear out quickly and are inferior in functionality to factory models. Therefore, experts recommend purchasing factory models.
Popular models of potato planters
Consider which technique is popular in the market. Let's talk about the best models of large, medium and small equipment separately, based on the factory characteristics of the models and feedback from people who have experienced a large number of such equipment (Yuri Serbin, for example). Let's make a reservation right away that if we consider Soviet and modern models, then the latter are multifunctional and adjustable.
Large equipment
Modern technology will help in planting potatoes
If we talk about which models have proven themselves on the market, the four-row HASSIA potato planters are worth noting. Pay attention to the SL 4 BZS models, which many farmers have liked. This technique is produced in Germany. The KSP-02 unit is suitable for almost all walk-behind tractors.
Quite good equipment is made by the Ukrainian company GRIMME. Among the super-heavy structures, the eight-row GRIMME VL 20 KLZ should be noted. The four-row models Grimme GL 34T, LIDSELMASH L-202, L-202-01 and L-207, which are produced by a Belarusian company, have excellent characteristics in the Russian models SKN 4A and SN 4B. The latter is equipped with a fertilizer hopper.
All agricultural machinery produced by Belarus is generally of good quality. The technique of the KRAMER company is also popular. Another good large-sized model made by a Belarusian company is SPK-4.
The agricultural machinery of the Polish company BOMET has a good reputation. The s239 model is popular. APK-3, which is manufactured in Poltava, is distinguished by its multifunctionality.
Quite good reviews about the Czech company AGROZET, but Chinese and Japanese technology did not take root in the domestic market.
Medium and small equipment
For a small farm, the potato planter KSM-1 is suitable. The improved KSM-3 model is in demand. This technique is made in Zaporozhye. Another small model, pay attention to the Tomarovka KST-1A potato planter, which is produced in Russia. It can be used with many models of motoblocks, in particular the popular Neva, Oka, Kadvi. A good option for private use is the single-row L-201, manufactured by LIDSELMASH, and the 2SM-1. This is a simple model made with quality parts. The KSM-1L walk-behind potato planter is popular.
Another popular two-row potato planter is KS-2MT. It works in conjunction with a mini-tractor, since its weight exceeds 100 kg. You can build a mini-tractor yourself by placing an engine from the Oka walk-behind tractor on it. Working with such equipment is possible even on heavy soils.
Compatibility with walk-behind tractors
Small-sized equipment, according to its technical characteristics, is compatible with motoblocks: Oka, Neva, NAC TIP38-140-M, Salyut, Kamenskaya, Proton MB-80, Ural, Husqvarna TR 430, Mole MK-1A-02 and MK-1A-01 -TS, Forte HSD1G-25. Two-row models can be used with Zubr walk-behind tractors, the price of which is quite attractive, Belarus 09n, OKA MB-1D1M11, Forza 6.5. The milling cultivator Motor Sich KF-1S is also quite good.
The model SKS-4, SKM-2, Miedema CP-22 from Kolnag is suitable for a minitractor with an Oka engine. But for large-sized mounted or semi-mounted equipment, the MTZ-82 tractor is suitable.
Techniques are improved every day. In addition to the models described, pay attention to new items.
Important points
A potato planter can be purchased at a specialist store. If you are looking for a by technique, the price of which is much lower than a new one, then it is sold on various sites (OLH or VIM, for example). When buying a product, it is often impossible to return the equipment. In addition, you will not be able to determine how long this potato planter was used for the walk-behind tractor. And any technique has a certain operational period.
In addition to the design that is used with cultivators, there is a manual potato planter. You will need 2 people to operate it. It is difficult for one person to work with such equipment, the weight of which exceeds 20 kg. Its price is not budgetary, but it will turn out to save on the purchase of a cultivator.
The simple device of the planter allows you to eliminate all faults yourself. It should be understood that those models that have more functions have a more complex mechanism. Accordingly, it is more difficult to repair them.
An instruction is attached to any unit. Before using the planter, be sure to study it.The instructions describe how the device is adjusted, with which cultivators it is compatible, and for what types of soil it is intended.
Due to the simplicity of the design, many are trying to design a potato planter for a walk-behind tractor on their own. We will not dwell on how to make a potato planter on our own. We will only make a reservation that before proceeding with the assembly of a potato planter, a design drawing should be made. And in order to make a drawing of a potato planter, you need to understand to the smallest details the mechanism of the device. At the stage of drawing up the drawing, we think over the dimensions of the equipment. Here, calculate how many kg the equipment will weigh, and whether you have a walk-behind tractor of appropriate power. In the diagram, the dimensions will be reduced, but the ratio between them must be observed. Otherwise, there will be problems at the build stage.