IN THE FIELD
From page 22
affects the speed you can
work at (generally, the faster
you can plough the greater
and more consistent will be
your throw).
There is also the observation
that ploughing in sandy soil is
better with a disc plough
while heavier soils are better
ploughed with a mouldboard
plough.
The degree of lateral swing of
the tail of the plough is also
noteworthy. Too much swing
to the right (when viewed
from the tractor) and the toes
of the two (or three) shares
will not be aligned with the
rears of the share in front. As
heights off the ground of the
two or three shares, and
further adjustment to the
angle of throw of the plough.
The height/depth relationship
is set by the hydraulic lift
control and, if your plough is
fitted with a rear guide wheel,
there as well.
One of the most common
mistakes made by novice
ploughmen is to attempt to
plough too deep. The plough
Illustrating a good throw: Two-share plough operating in very wet soil
a result, there will be strips of wasteful because you are not is not the implement one uses
unturned soil with each pass
maximising the result of each for deep soil working. A
plough is designed (and
of the plough, one between
pass of the plough.
the furrows of a two share
Once you have experimented should be used) merely to
plough and two between the with what works best in your turn over the top 10-15cm of
furrows of a three-share.
soil and with your tractor, you soil, thus burying the tops of
weeds and exposing the roots
Conversely, too much swing
should not need to change
so that the plants die.
to the left and the second and the position of the hitching
Thus your efforts at controlthird shares will simply be
pins again, any further
ling the depth of the plough
ploughing partially in the
adjustment being possible
should be aimed at this 10furrow of the share in front.
from the tractor itself.
15cm level. Although you can
This is useful if you have very The three adjustments
heavy soil and an underpow- possible on the tractor are for probably achieve more in
lighter, sandy soil, and with a
ered tractor that struggles to
the overall height of the
more powerful tractor.
turn a full two or three
ploughing effort or, in other
The shares, however, must be
furrows but in normal
words, the depth of the
level with the ground when
conditions this is simply
furrows, for the relative
Continued on page 25
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