Technologies and agrotechnical requirements for primary tillage

The main task of an agronomist during tillage is to preserve and restore its soil fertility throughout the entire depth of the root system of plants. The best conditions for the accumulation of soil moisture and nutrients are provided by a fine-crumb structure, where the loose layer consists of solid clods ranging from 1 to 10 mm in size. At the same time, the top layer quickly loses its structure and accumulates weeds under the influence of weather and machinery.

• Soil clod size — 1–10 mm
• Minimum ploughing depth — 22 cm
• Ploughing depth deviation — no more than ±2 cm
• Pre-sowing tillage deviation — no more than ±1 cm
• Depth of non-inversion loosening — 16–30 cm

Depending on the climate and type of farm, one of three tillage systems is used in the fields:

• Autumn (winter fallow) — the classic option, including a sequential cycle of operations from harvesting to sowing.
• Erosion control — deep loosening and surface tillage with mandatory retention of stubble for protection against wind and water erosion.
• Minimum — combining several operations (ploughing, harrowing, fertilizer application) in a single pass of the implement.

For most zones, the autumn system remains the main one. It is carried out in a strict technological sequence:

1. Stubble harrowing after harvesting.
2. Autumn ploughing.
3. Pre-sowing tillage.
4. Tillage after sowing.

Agrotechnical requirements for field work

When performing primary ploughing, it is important to strictly observe technological parameters. The plough must run at the set depth — at least 22 cm, and on soils with a thin arable horizon — to its full depth. The cross-section of the furrows should be uniform across the entire field, and the average deviation from the set depth should not exceed the limit.

High-quality mouldboard ploughing requires complete inversion of the furrow slice with deep burial of weeds, stubble, and fertilizers. The surface of the arable land must be continuous, and for autumn fields — slightly ridged. Misses, crooked furrows, high ridge backrests, and deep dead furrows are not allowed in the field. Headlands must be ploughed after finishing the treatment of the main area.

During pre-sowing field preparation, it is necessary to monitor the quality of the implements' performance:

• loosen the soil uniformly without bringing moist layers to the surface;
• completely eliminate weed plants;
• level the field surface without leaving deep furrows, ridges, or skips;
• maintain straight furrows.

After sowing, during harrowing and inter-row cultivation of row crops, it is important to ensure uniform loosening of the soil. Weeds in rows and between rows must be destroyed without damaging the cultivated plants.

Machinery for primary and special tillage

Depending on the technology, the depth and method of impact on the soil vary. During primary tillage, either classic ploughing with furrow inversion to a depth of 20–35 cm is carried out, or non-inversion loosening to 16–30 cm using cultivator-subsoilers or loosening ploughs. For special tasks — such as developing virgin land, marshes, trench ploughing, or milling — specialized tools are used.

For surface work, discs, harrows, drags, cultivators, rollers, and hiller ploughs are used. During primary tillage, tractor-mounted general-purpose share ploughs play the main role. They perform both ridge-and-furrow ploughing (with right-turning bodies) and smooth ploughing without ridge backrests and dead furrows.

Designs of ploughs for smooth ploughing are divided into three types:

• Reversible — the frame with right and left bodies rotates around the longitudinal axis at the end of each pass.
• Clavier — sections with right and left bodies are suspended separately and engage in work alternately.
• Shuttle — consist of two separate ploughs, one of which is attached to the front of the tractor and the other to the rear.

For non-inversion technologies and stubble harrowing, PPL-10-25 share-type stubble ploughs are used. For deep non-inversion loosening in fields, chisel ploughs are used, such as the PCh-2.5. Proper selection of equipment allows for minimizing costs and preserving soil moisture.