Types of tractors for processing potatoes and their use
Growing potatoes in large areas is troublesome. It is difficult to dig up a large area with your own hands without special devices, and it takes a lot of time. A tractor for processing potatoes is an effective replacement for manual labor, thanks to which hilling is much faster and easier.
Types of tractors for processing potatoes
Varieties of tractors
Planting and hilling is carried out using 2 types of tractors:
- MTZ82;
- YuMZ-6.
MTZ82 has undergone modifications several times over the entire production period. The main mechanical components are located on a frame made of steel, reinforced with side members. The required rigidity is provided by the intermediate support, the front axle is equipped with wheels of a smaller diameter. The tractor is equipped with telescopic arms that allow changing the track width.
YuMZ-6 was designed on the basis of MTZ, intended for processing fields. It is considered one of the simplest and most reliable tractors produced in the USSR. The motorized tractor has been used for many years to simplify agricultural work in large areas.
Planting aids
There are many devices on the market today that help to greatly facilitate the work on the site. If for the owners 6 acres is not essential, in the processing of huge areas it is an opportunity to reduce energy costs and increase yields.
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is a device that consists of several studded joints, differing in diameter. They are located relative to each other at an angle of 40-45̊ ° This design allows the formation of ridges during the movement of the tractor. The design can be modified by installing additional hedgehogs on the same frame parallel to each other. The frame can be attached to any cultivator. Hedgehogs are suitable for use on all types of soil.
The hedgehogs are welded to a hollow iron pipe with a diameter of 25 mm. Another pipe is placed inside this pipe, to which brackets are attached, connecting the structure with the fasteners. Each hedgehog should have thorns 6-7 cm long, 6-8 mm in diameter, the interval between the thorns is 40-50 mm. The discs should gradually decrease in diameter to 35, 25 and 15 cm. Hedgehogs can be made independently from iron sheets and rods.
Mini planter
Technique to help
The planter is attached to a tractor or walk-behind tractor. This device makes the planting process much easier. With the help of a planter, you can simultaneously:
- form furrows;
- fold the seed;
- fill the furrows with soil.
Functionality depends on the power, soil composition, processing area. The planter consists of:
- plow;
- container;
- hillers.
It can consist of one or several blocks. Additional blocks allow you to add fertilizer to the furrows at the same time. Four-row structures allow you to plant an area of 1 hectare in literally 0.5 hours. The container holds from 12 to 20 potatoes.
Types of hillers
By the principle of work
- disc machines for hilling potatoes;
- plow.
The disc hiller is considered universal. It does an excellent job on any type of soil, suitable for use in small and large areas. The disc hiller is distinguished by its high cost, this is its only drawback. If you wish, you can build it on your own. A homemade hiller is a great alternative if there is not much finance to buy expensive equipment.
The structure of the plow hiller resembles an ordinary plow. This is the simplest hiller, but no improved analogue can compare with its reliability. The disadvantage is the need to connect to a tractor or cultivator with high power. The plus is that it is very easy to make a homemade analogue.
By device type
- fixed;.
- adjustable.
The fixed hiller does not allow you to adjust the working width, therefore, when processing the field, you need to make the markings as evenly as possible, otherwise the work will be very difficult. There are hillers for tractors and motoblocks. The former allow you to simultaneously make furrows, loosen the soil and remove weeds along with the roots. The second ones are attached instead of the opener to the walk-behind tractor. During the passage of the aisles, they pour the soil directly onto the tubers.
The adjustable ones have the ability to change the working width, so the hiller is used on beds of any width. The optimum row spacing is 70-80 cm. Too large a width makes further maintenance of the beds very difficult. The disadvantage of such a device is filling the soil back into the trench.
Harvesting accessories
We attach the digger to the tractor
The digger is fixed to the rear suspension of the tractor.
One of the most complex structures is considered to be a conveyor digger. A ploughshare is installed on its front part, which cuts the ground during processing. Root crops, along with the soil, go to the conveyor, where they are cleaned of dirt. Most often, these models of diggers are used for harvesting in large farms. Their main disadvantage is the high price.
The vibrating potato digger also has a share in front to cut the soil. But the table made of rods is not made in the form of a conveyor, but is welded tightly. The trimmed soil, along with the vegetables, falls on the grate, which vibrates from movement, due to which the tubers are cleaned. This model is most beneficial for home use, besides its price is lower than that of the previous analogue.
The fan digger is the simplest design, reminiscent of a vibrating device. The potato digger here is made of a hiller, to which rods in the form of a fan are attached at the back. On the twigs, the tubers are cleaned from dirt. It is recommended to use the digger together with the walk-behind tractor.
The drum potato digger is rarely used due to one serious drawback: it damages the potato skins when peeling. The drum is directly connected to the PTO shaft. On the front there is a knife that trims the soil.
Planting potatoes with a tractor
To begin with, prepare the seed. Potatoes germinate for 2 weeks. After 14 days, thin white appendages are removed. Provide enough light for the tubers during germination. They are laid out on the floor in 1 layer, periodically turned over. The potatoes are ready to plant when powerful green shoots appear on them.
Soil preparation
Potatoes are planted when the soil warms up to 4 ℃. Before using the tractor cultivator for planting, the soil is moistened. The soil should crumble easily without sticking to the shovel. Digging the earth leads to the destruction of its fertile qualities. Loosening is carried out using a rake and the soil is processed with a mechanized cutter.
The working depth should not exceed 10 cm.With insufficient soil cultivation, the tubers will not receive oxygen, due to which the yield will decrease. For processing, plows of 3 types are used:
- rotary;
- case;
- negotiable.
The maximum effect is given by revolving devices. Plows differ in the number of working bodies. For equipment with low power, plows with 2-4 bodies are used, for powerful tractors, the use of 10-12 bodies is provided. Landing with a mini-tractor does not require marking of furrows. Rows are formed at a distance of 70 cm with a width of 30 cm between holes, a track width of 14 cm.
Planting and leaving
With the help of a cultivator, furrows are made into which the seed is placed, observing the above distances. The previous furrow is covered with earth from the next one. The landing is smooth, thanks to the passage of the wheel along the cut furrow.
The tubers are planted by hand or by connecting a mini planter. In this case, it is possible to plant a plot of 2 hectares in an hour. You can make the planter yourself. A homemade copy is no worse than a purchased analogue.
Further care is carried out with the help of hillers. Simultaneously with hilling, weeding of row spacings takes place, removal of weeds. Hilling is an important process that helps increase oxygen supply to root crops and form beautiful shrubs.
It is difficult to do all the work with your hands on large areas, so people began to mechanize all the processes. Watering can also be mechanized by installing a drip system. This will save money on water and time.