Content
- 1 Choosing the right model
- 2 How to plow correctly with a walk-behind tractor and plow
- 3 How to properly plow with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
- 4 How to plow a garden with a walk-behind tractor with a front adapter
- 5 Is it necessary to plow the garden in the fall with a walk-behind tractor?
- 6 Why the walk-behind tractor does not plow: reasons and how to troubleshoot
- 7 Conclusion
Modern means of mechanization make it possible to plow fairly large plots of land. Moreover, such devices are highly mobile, which allows them to be used in places where tractors and other large agricultural machines cannot access. In addition, plowing with a walk-behind tractor allows you to carry out work independently, without depending on other people.
Choosing the right model
Before purchasing a walk-behind tractor, you need to determine for what work the unit will be used.The simplest devices are lightweight (up to 100 kg) and are equipped with 4–8 hp engines. With. and are equipped with a small set of working attachments.
They allow you to perform the minimum required list of works:
- plowing;
- disking;
- harrowing;
- ridge catching.
Some devices are universal. They allow the use of additional equipment, for example:
- potato digger;
- snow blower;
- motor pump;
- lawnmower.
Small walk-behind tractors with a 4-5 liter engine. With. and a working area width of 0.5-0.6 m are suitable for plowing a small plot of land not exceeding 15-20 acres in area. For larger plots, more serious equipment is needed. If the size of the plot exceeds 20 acres, it is more advisable to use a unit with a capacity of 7-8 liters. With. and a processing width of 0.7-0.8 m. Land plots up to 1 hectare are cultivated with walk-behind tractors with 9-12 hp engines. With. and a working area width of up to 1 m.
When choosing a walk-behind tractor, you need to pay attention not only to the parameters of the unit, but also to its manufacturer. High-quality models are equipped with engines from well-known manufacturers (Forza, Honda, Subaru), have a disc clutch and gear reducers. Such models are the most reliable and, when using high-quality fuel and oil, last for quite a long time.
What is better to plow: a walk-behind tractor with a plow or a cultivator
Plowing is the simplest soil cultivation operation. If the area of the plot is small and the soil is quite loose, then you can use a cultivator.These devices are lighter and more maneuverable than walk-behind tractors with a plow, and their less powerful engines consume less fuel. If the soil is heavy or you have to plow virgin soil, then you can’t do without a walk-behind tractor. Unlike motorized cultivators, these self-propelled units can cultivate areas using attachments: a plow, a disk, a cutter.
Motoblocks, as a rule, are equipped with rubber pneumatic wheels, which makes it possible to use them as a tractor, for example, when towing a trailer.
Can a walk-behind tractor plow virgin soil?
Unlike a cultivator, which works only on loose soils, a walk-behind tractor can be used for plowing heavy soil, including virgin soil. The ability to use a variety of attachments makes it possible to use a rotary plow, best suited for cultivating neglected areas.
How to plow correctly with a walk-behind tractor and plow
If conditions permit, it is recommended to plow with a walk-behind tractor along the long side of the plot. Often the first furrow is plowed along a stretched rope, which makes it level. Subsequently, each subsequent furrow is plowed so that one wheel runs along the edge of the plowed area of the previous row. This results in smooth and uniform plowing of the entire area.
How to properly adjust a walk-behind tractor plow for plowing
The plow adjustment process consists of several stages:
- Depending on the required plowing depth, the walk-behind tractor is hung above the ground at the same height. To do this, you can drive it onto a stand made of boards or bricks.
- In accordance with the operating instructions, install the attachment on the unit.The plow stand must be vertical, and the field board must touch the soil along its entire length.
- If necessary, adjust the angle of the field board.
- Depending on the type of plowing, make one or two row furrows.
After the row-crop furrow is ready, it is necessary to set the angle of the plow stand. Since one of the wheels will go along the plowed furrow, the walk-behind tractor itself will tilt, but the stand must remain vertical. To adjust the angle of the stand, you need to place a stand under the left wheel of the walk-behind tractor of the same height as it was when adjusting the depth.
After this, the plow stand must be installed perpendicular to the ground surface.
Which wheels are better to plow with a walk-behind tractor?
Most walk-behind tractors are equipped with rubber pneumatic wheels. This allows the unit to move over the ground and roads without damaging them. For normal movement and even for transporting a trailer with a load, the traction force of the rubber wheels with the road is quite enough, but the plow exhibits much more serious resistance when plowing. Therefore, on site, rubber wheels are usually replaced with lugs - all-metal cylinders with a welded herringbone made of metal plates. These devices significantly increase the weight of the walk-behind tractor, due to which such wheels literally bite into the ground.
Practice shows that the use of lugs as a propulsion device significantly improves traction with the ground and increases traction force, while rubber wheels, even with a large pattern, are prone to slipping. This is especially noticeable when plowing heavy soil or virgin soil.Another danger of using pneumatic rubber wheels when plowing is that the rim can simply “turn” and the wheel inner tube will become unusable.
How to adjust plowing depth on a walk-behind tractor
The plowing depth can be adjusted by raising or lowering the plow. The design of the plow stand provides several holes into which an adjusting bolt is inserted. The holes are at different heights. To ensure the required plowing depth, the adjusting bolt is threaded through the desired hole and secured with a nut.
What speed should you use when plowing with a walk-behind tractor?
As a rule, the gearbox of a walk-behind tractor allows you to change the speed of movement. This is done so that the unit is more versatile and can move in transport mode at a higher speed. However, for plowing, especially if the work is carried out manually on dense and heavy soils, the transport speed is too high and will not provide the force necessary to operate the plow at the required depth.
The normal plowing speed in manual mode is 5 km/h. This allows the plowman to move behind the walk-behind tractor at a calm pace. However, this speed can be doubled if you use a transport and arable module to attach the plow not to the walk-behind tractor frame.
How to plow a garden with a walk-behind tractor
Depending on the time of year and the goal, there are two ways to plow the soil in the garden with a walk-behind tractor.
- Waddle. With this method of plowing, the layers are turned over in opposite directions relative to the central axis of the site. Work begins from the right edge of the field, goes through it to the end, then drives the unit to the left edge and returns along it to the starting point. Then the right wheel of the walk-behind tractor is installed in the furrow and plowing of the second row begins. The cycles are repeated until the last furrow is plowed, which should run exactly along the central axis of the plot.
- Vval. Plowing a site using this method begins with plowing a central furrow running along the axis. The right lug is then placed in the furrow and returned to its original location. Then the cycle repeats. Plowing is carried out in both directions from the central axis, gradually filling the entire area. In this case, the layers turn out to be inverted towards each other relative to the central axis of the area.
The first method is most often used during spring plowing; it allows you to evenly incorporate fertilizers spread or scattered over the surface into the soil. When plowing with the second method, deeper furrows are left, so they are often plowed before winter. In this case, the ground freezes more strongly, which kills pests, and snow remains in deep furrows longer, maintaining soil moisture.
How to plow virgin soil with a walk-behind tractor
Plowing virgin soil with a plow is quite a serious test, both for the walk-behind tractor and for its owner. Heavy compacted earth, intertwined with grass roots, creates very high resistance, often leading to breakage of the hitch and other unpleasant consequences. Therefore, it is better to develop virgin soil with heavy equipment, namely a tractor.If the site does not allow this and the only option left is to dig up the ground with a walk-behind tractor, then it is better to choose the following procedure:
- Clear the area as much as possible of weeds, dry grass, and anything that could interfere with the walk-behind tractor.
- Go through the area with cutters with a slight depth to destroy the top layer of turf.
- Set the plow to a small depth (about 5 cm) and plow the area.
- Increase the depth of the plow. Re-plow the area.
It should be noted that the concept of “virgin land” is rather arbitrary. This is usually what untreated soil is called, but its density and composition can differ significantly. Therefore, not all virgin soil can be plowed with a plow. Sometimes it is more expedient to use cutters for this purpose; if you go through the area with them 3-4 times, then even serious dense soil can be literally smashed to smithereens.
Video on how to plow with a walk-behind tractor:
How to properly plow with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
The advent of tillers for walk-behind tractors has significantly simplified the procedure for cultivating land for many gardeners. Instead of traditional work, such as plowing and harrowing, a complex operation has appeared that allows one to obtain a loose soil structure suitable for sowing in one go. This significantly reduced labor costs and provided a significant gain in time.
How to adjust the plowing depth with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
The maximum depth of cultivation with a walk-behind tractor (this is what is more correct to call the process of plowing with cutters) depends to the greatest extent on the diameter of the cutter and is usually half of this value. Attempts to plow to greater depths will result in the cultivator simply burying itself. The depth into the soil must be adjusted within the required limits using a coulter.
How to dig a vegetable garden with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
The standard process of cultivating land with a walk-behind tractor is usually carried out in 2 stages.
- Set the opener to a slight depth. Work the area over the entire area, going around it in a circle and gradually moving towards the center. In this case, the cultivator operates at low speeds or in first gear.
- Set the opener to the required cultivation depth. The entire area is processed at high speeds or at 2 speeds.
As a rule, to dig up a previously processed area with a walk-behind tractor, 2 passes are enough.
How to plow virgin soil with a walk-behind tractor with cutters
Plowing virgin soil with a walk-behind tractor with cutters is carried out in several steps. The first pass at low speed with minimal penetration violates the integrity of the turf and destroys the strongest surface layer. On the second and subsequent passes, the depth is increased, and the engine speed is gradually increased. A total of 3-4 treatments may be required, this greatly depends on the density and structure of the soil.
Cultivation of land with a walk-behind tractor in the video:
How to plow a garden with a walk-behind tractor with a front adapter
The use of a front adapter essentially turns the walk-behind tractor into a mini-tractor with all the ensuing consequences. Such units can be used for a wide variety of agricultural work, as well as for transporting goods. It is much easier to operate a walk-behind tractor with a front adapter, and thanks to the additional weight, the traction force of the unit with the ground increases.
The convenience of the design allows the machine operator not to waste energy on following the plow and constantly guiding it. A walk-behind tractor with a front adapter allows you to cover large areas, but it is not as maneuverable as a conventional power unit with manual control. Therefore, in conditions of limited space, the use of such units is difficult.
The procedure for plowing the site itself is no different from the usual one. Many adapters are equipped with a special hitch that allows you to control the depth of the plow using levers. The plowman can only drive his mini-tractor with one wheel along the furrow, maintaining speed and straight movement. Upon reaching the boundary of the site, the machine operator will raise the hitch with the plow to the transport position, make a turn and lower the plow again to the working position. This way the entire area is gradually processed.
Is it necessary to plow the garden in the fall with a walk-behind tractor?
Autumn plowing is not mandatory, but this procedure has many positive effects.
- The depth of soil freezing increases, and weeds and insect pests and their larvae overwintering in the soil die.
- Plowed soil retains snow and water better, remaining moist longer.
- The soil structure improves, making spring plowing faster and with less labor.
In addition, during autumn plowing, many gardeners add organic fertilizers to the soil. Over the winter they will partially decompose, which will increase soil fertility.
Why the walk-behind tractor does not plow: reasons and how to troubleshoot
The walk-behind tractor has a certain power and is designed to work with a certain type of attachment. Attempts to independently change anything in the design of the unit often lead to a negative result. In addition, there may be several reasons for poor performance of a walk-behind tractor with a plow.
- The wheels rotate, the plow stands still. This indicates insufficient traction of the wheels with the ground or the plow is too deep. It is necessary to reduce the plowing depth, and also replace the rubber wheels with lugs. Additional traction with the ground can be provided by increasing the weight of the walk-behind tractor; for this, additional weights are hung on the wheels or on the front part.
- The plow burrows into the ground or jumps out of the ground. Most likely, the angles of the stand or field board are set incorrectly. It is necessary to hang the walk-behind tractor with the plow and make the necessary settings.
- Wrong choice of plowing speed. Selected empirically.
In addition to these reasons, there may also be malfunctions with the walk-behind tractor itself; it may not develop the required power, the transmission or chassis may be damaged, the frame or hitch may be bent.
Conclusion
Plowing with a walk-behind tractor has long become commonplace for modern gardeners. These units significantly save time and effort and allow you to perform soil cultivation much more efficiently.An important property of such devices is their versatility, which allows you not only to plow a garden with a walk-behind tractor, but also to use it for other equally important work.
