Comparative tests of ridging cultivators with active and passive working tools

Abstract

Two types of ridging cultivators for growing potatoes and other vegetables were designed and tested. The first machine GPK-2 has active working tools – rotary drum with straight cutters, passive sweeps on rigid tines, and plates forming ridges. The second machine GD-2 has only passive drought working tools: spring S-shaped tines with sweeps of two forms, disks, and plates forming ridges. Field tests were carried out to determine soil preparation quality and energy consumption indicators of both machines on loamy soils typical for the non-chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. It is advisable to use the indicator of the specific power consumption related to the average diameter of loosened soil clods. Measured specific power per average clod diameter was in range 3.3…4.3 kW×mm−1 for the active rotary ridging cultivator, and 2.6…3.2 kW×mm−1 for the cultivator with passive working tools. The required power for the machine with passive working tools at the maximum possible forward speed is 25…35% lowers than for a rotary machine. Though cutting ridges on the post-planting treatment of loamy soil, rotary tiller supplies better soil crumbling. On inter-row cultivation of light loamy soils, the machine with passive working tools is a preferable solution due to less energy consumption relative to the machine with an active rotary drive.