Agriweld’s low disturbance cultivation range provides numerous options to reduce tillage methods in line with modern, minimum tillage systems. Tillage reduction provides many benefits, including enhancing soil aggregation and promoting biological activity, leading to greater available soil moisture and improved soil tilth. Reducing tillage can also be economically advantageous for farmers, by minimizing passes and saving on crop establishment costs. As Agriweld design and manufacture their full product range in house, there is the opportunity to work to individual requirements.
The ASSIST & ASL – Rear mounted, low disturbance toolbars
The Assist low disturbance, rear mounted toolbar has been designed as part of the company’s low disturbance range as an option to reduce tillage processes by enabling a onepass system. Primarily designed to work with a trailed drill/ cultivator, the leading straight, serrated disc cuts through the trash creating a path for the following leg. The discs and legs lift out of work independently to the drawbar, so not to affect the drawbar height of the drill.
The Assist LD legs lift and shatter the soil across the full width of the machine, alleviating compaction in the seed bed whilst still retaining precious moisture and allowing for nutrient ingress up to 300mm deep. This toolbar is complete with rear hydraulic coupling unit complete with four double acting hydraulic services, ¾ free flow return and 7 pin plug socket. The 6m model provides the unique ability to interchange disc and leg centres, either having 12 legs at 500mm centres or 8 legs at 750mm centres for drilling maize, of which the change is easily performed with Agriweld’s own, innovative ‘hook-on’ leg socket design. The 6m machines ‘Tight Turn’ feature enables easy turning on the headland by partially folding the wings, allowing for a trailed implement to pass under the machine; operating on the same hydraulic function allows the wings to fold, in sequence, after the legs have lifted out of work. The ASL rear mounted, low disturbance toolbar performs a similar role to the Assist, however, the features provided between the two models differ to facilitate alternatives intended to cover the majority of cultivating requirements.
The 3 and 4m ASL are designed to run in conjunction with a mounted combination drill and include auto-reset legs with fixed leg centers at 500mm as standard. Available in 3m rigid, 4m rigid, 4m folding and 6m folding models, the 3m and 4m models include a PTO cut through feature for the PTO shaft to run through the frame. The 6m model includes a pair of stability wheels. All ASL models are complete with rear CAT 3 linkage for mounted/combination drills as standard.
New ASL features for 2022 include front leading discs and rear packer roller option available at the time of order or as an aftermarket feature thanks to a modified standard frame design. The popular ‘Tight Turn’ feature is also included on the 4m and 6m folding ASL; by partially folding the wings, performing operational manoeuvers on the headland is easily achievable and prevents fouling. The ASL offers an optional drawbar clevis, front leading discs and rear packer roller, enhancing the versatility of the toolbar and provides further cultivating options. Both rear toolbars provide growers with the ability to build a system that works for them to subsequently reduce their crop establishment costs.
The MIN-DIS – Low Disturbance Subsoiler
The Min-Dis Low Disturbance Subsoiler is designed to lift and alleviate compaction and promote soil structure, while causing minimum disturbance to the top layer of soil. Complete with Agriweld’s innovative Snap-Bar shear leg protection system and unique Agri-Packer roller as standard, the Agri-Packer’s replaceable shoulders with a shallow profile assist in achieving consolidation across the whole width across the machine. The company’s Easy Clean Scraper Bar system allows for quick and easy displacement of soil on scrapers and eliminates the risk of transfer of blackgrass and other volunteers to other fields. Auto-reset leg protection is also available, along with an optional flat roller with drive teeth for grassland.
The 460mm serrated straight cutting disc cuts through the top layer of the soil and trash, allowing the following low disturbance leg to pass through the soil without great disruption. Leaving the cover of trash on the field provides additional protection against water and wind erosion of the soil. The disc bar is fully height adjustable, independently from the legs.
The following LD leg combined with a standard issue low disturbance point drives through the opening left by the disc at a maximum depth of 300mm. The angled wings on the point lift the soil before it sits back down causing a shattering effect across the full width of the machine, alleviating compaction, aerating the soil and aiding water/nutrient infiltration. This is all done with minimal disturbance to the top surface of the soil.
The Min-Dis is available in 3m, 4m and 6m models.
Further details on Agriweld’s low disturbance cultivation machines and their full product range can be found on their website, via email on sales@agriweld.co.uk or by calling them on 01377 259140.