A walk-behind tractor is a small-sized tractor that can facilitate small-scale mechanization of the work of a farmer on a backyard, summer cottage or farm yard. The devices for it determine the functionality of the application, are used for loosening the soil, planting potatoes and vegetables, transporting goods, hilling. An important factor in the advisability of purchasing a walk-behind tractor is the size of the area for processing.
How to plant potatoes under a walk-behind tractor
There are agronomic methods of cultivating our beloved potato, and they are very difficult. This culture has a weak root system, and therefore the condition of the soil must meet certain requirements:
- structure
- fertility
- water permeability
- enough warmth
Equipment for plowing the field
First you need to level the area, plow, loosen.
For these purposes, motorized devices are used in the form of a walk-behind tractor, a cultivator on a motor or a mini-tractor. People have invented a walk-behind tractor - the most suitable, low-cost equipment for planting potatoes.
Dignity cultivator is that using cultivation cutter soil preparation is carried out, beds are cut for sowing and inter-row cultivation is carried out up to harvesting of root crops.
Mini tractors used in small farms for plowing, transporting goods, cleaning territories. All small-sized equipment solves the same questions: how to help agricultural workers.
Trailed equipment
Trailed attachments have been developed for the walk-behind tractor: hillers, plows, potato planter. Gardeners prefer to have a device with a hiller on the farm, which lends itself to adjusting the working width for themselves.
Wherein the size of the plot and the variety of potatoes are taken into account.
Landing under the plow
It is convenient for two people to plant potatoes under the plow. One person operates the technique, and the second lays the tubers into the furrow.
Passage in the opposite direction is accompanied by the closure of the furrows with soil. This method is used often, and here no need to mark the area for sowing in advance.
Working with a disc hiller
Planting is carried out with a disk hiller. This device is an attachment for a motoblock device in the form of a special frame on which metal discs are suspended at an angle to the ground surface.
Hiller not only cuts the ridges for planting, but also loosens the soil.
Potato planter
Planting with a potato planter differs from the previously mentioned methods in that marking, manual spreading of tubers is not required. This process is fully mechanized.
The use of a potato planter is advisable in large areas... But the specific design of the equipment requires additional careful selection of seed material in size.
Application of a two-row hiller
Other devices are also used, for example, a two-row hiller. It would seem that the work should be halved in time. But there are features of planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor with a two-row hiller.
With this technology, two combs simultaneously... Controlling both ridges at once is difficult, so people try to simplify the planting process.
Motoblock Neva
The production of small equipment for farmsteads in the Russian Federation and the countries of the former USSR began long ago. The leader in this direction is the Krasny Oktyabr - Neva enterprise.
For more than a decade, designers have been working, new models are being mastered, hinged mechanisms are being improved. As a result of active design activities, a unit appeared for performing a wide range of tillage operations.
Salute
The second most popular motoblock "Salute" 6.5 HP... To plant potatoes, you need to have, in addition to the unit, an additional plow, a hiller, and above all, a device for adhesion to the ground.
Planting potatoes with the Salyut walk-behind tractor basically looks like this: the mechanism moves in one direction and cuts a groove for planting seed, the same unit goes back and closes the furrow with soil.
The peculiarity of the walk-behind tractor is expressed in the selection of the appropriate attachments.
MTZ
Motoblocks MTZ came to us from the Soviet Minsk Tractor Plant, they are popular even now, they are in demand among the population of Russia.
The minimum size agricultural machine is multifunctional and versatile... Decently fulfills its mission.
The model has disadvantages:
- there are problems with gear shifting;
- requires a load of physical strength when switching the differential.
Each business executive acquires equipment for himself based on considerations of cost and expediency. Requirements for agronomic practices do not change.
Working procedure
How to plow with a walk-behind tractor for potatoes? To get a decent harvest of potatoes, you need to follow the rules of soil cultivation, plant care, including inter-row cultivation, and timely harvesting.
Soil preparation for potatoes
The first step to victory in the struggle for the harvest of root crops is to prepare the soil for planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor. To start spring work in the garden, you need determine the area for potatoes.
To this end, you need to find dry place with sandy loam... Loosening of the soil is recommended in dry weather. The soil layer should not be turned over during spring loosening.
The tillage process depends entirely on the type of soil.
The composition of the soil is determined simply:
- a small amount of earth is taken and soaked in water;
- a ball rolls down from this soil, a ball will not work out of sandy soil;
- a strip is pulled from the ball, if it did not work out - the soil is sandy loam;
- the result is a strip - loamy or clayey soil.
Embedment depth
Most suitable for potatoes sandy, sandy loam type... The owner decides for himself how deep he will plant potatoes with a walk-behind tractor.
Light sandy and sandy loam soils sufficiently saturate the air, so you can not cut the ridges, but plant them in grooves. The cultivation depth depends on the soil property and the optimal value is 12 cm.
How readiness is checked
Preparing the walk-behind tractor for work is as follows:
- verify fuel and oil level in the system, if necessary, add to the required value;
- make sure the wheel drive levers are unlocked;
- open the fuel supply valve;
- move the ignition switch to the "On" position;
- pull out the starter rope and pull it firmly until the engine starts.
Working process
The planting process involves the whole range of actions from the preparation of equipment and seeds to the completion of the planting pore. Technological techniques develop in different ways, even depending on weather conditions.
Under any circumstances, farmers practice the moment pre-sowing selection, vernalization and germination of tubers... For planting choose tubers in mass 35-50 g... The sprouts are buried in the ground when they are thick and green.
Post-germination treatment
After germination, potatoes are processed in order to stimulate germination, increase yields, preventive disinfection against late blight, diseases and pests.
Cutting furrows
The seed was prepared, the equipment for cultivating the land was ready, the timely question arises of how to cut the furrows for the potatoes with a walk-behind tractor. Mid-season and late potato varieties are planted in a row at a distance of up to 35 cm, and the row spacing is kept 60 cm.The cutting distance between rows of early varieties is kept within 50 cm.
Cutting the beds
People apply technology according to their specific conditions. With the help of a walk-behind tractor, furrows or beds are cut. There is an answer to the request on how to cut the beds for potatoes with a walk-behind tractor.
The first bed must be done exactly on the ruler... In the next row they lower the wheel following the trail of the previous row... Everything turns out smoothly if you put extension cords on rubber wheels, attach a two-row hiller, set the knives correctly in the center.
The role of the plow
What is a plow for planting potatoes for a walk-behind tractor is speed. Cut the furrows, lay the potatoes, go back, and the walk-behind tractor closes the groove. The next furrow is laid at a distance about 70 cm.
Homemade plow
Experienced farmers easily make a homemade plow for planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor. They understand the price preference for a product with their own hands.
In addition, intelligently calculated parameters facilitate work, the plow does not break out of the furrow. The plow is controlled during work and gives its advantages.
Homemade plow is combined with other attachments.
Motor cultivator
Planting potatoes with a motor-cultivator is also carried out. It is equipped with a gearbox and cultivating cutters, in contrast to the walk-behind tractor, which has wheels.
At a cost, this unit costs cheaper... The cultivation of potatoes involves the use of a plow.
Correct seeding pattern
After planting and germination, plant care continues. Inter-row processing of potatoes provides for a neat loosening the soil around the row crop. The work is done manually, but it is a tedious long process.
Processing with a mini tractor speeds up the process, saves human strength. Attachments do the job well and quickly. Hillers are used here.
This is how the scheme of planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor looks like - 35 cm between tubers, 60 cm between rows.
Advantages of the hiller
The advantages of the hiller are in its versatility:
- forms furrows when planting;
- loosens the soil qualitatively;
- spud plants.
Weeding harrow
Weeds in the garden grow next to potatoes. For clearing the area from weeds use special equipment.
Weeding with the harrow is easy. The harrow tines are attached to the net and face the ground, the net is suspended from the frame. The technical means pulls this drag along the field, while moving it pulls out the weeds.
Use a harrow when weeds appear after plowing before germination.
So, the cultivated potato crop, which the entire population loves, requires a special approach to itself. Cultivation is associated with many agricultural methods. Designers and manufacturers of small-scale mechanization make good gifts for rural workers.