Deep plowing: moldboard depth, pros and cons and how to do it

Agriculture involves several ways of tillage. The choice of method is influenced by the following factors: type of soil, type of crops grown, use of equipment. A popular method of shallow tillage, when the upper fertile layer is slightly loosened. With deep plowing, the top arable layer is thrown into the furrow, and the bottom layer is turned out to the surface.

What does deep plowing affect

Several technologies are used in the deep cultivation of the land: classical (moldboard), non-moldboard, combined. When moldboard tillage, a special moldboard plow is used.Deep digging is used to change the location of genetic soil horizons in the vertical direction.

Thanks to technology, different depths of tillage are practiced. The wrapping of a layer with a thickness of 20-40 cm is considered to be the minimum. The wrapping of the arable layer with a thickness of at least 40-70 cm is considered to be deep. When digging the earth, the thickness of the arable horizon is taken into account. In the process of processing, the above-ground parts of plants are also cut and embedded, mineral and organic fertilizers are added.

Pros and cons

Any way of cultivating the land has both negative and positive qualities. Benefits of deep tillage:

• an effective way to kill perennial weeds. Due to the fact that weed seeds fall into the lower layers of the soil, their germination is difficult;
• weeds germinate much later than in the case of surface loosening;
• provides soil protection from infectious pathogens that accumulate in plant debris. Since infectious microorganisms move deep into the earth during deep digging, infection of plant crops is excluded;
• thanks to the autumn dump digging during the winter months, most of the colony of wireworms and other pests freezes out;
• soil moisture increases;
• organic and mineral additives are evenly distributed in the ground;
• seals in the soil are destroyed, contributing to stagnant water.

The disadvantage of the method is the need to use equipment equipped with special devices (multi-leaf springs, disc knives, moldboard plow). You also need to keep in mind significant spending on fuels and lubricants.Frequent use increases the risk of soil erosion.

How to do it?

Traditionally, deep plowing is carried out with a moldboard plow. Moreover, the land is cultivated twice: in spring (March-April) and in autumn (October-November). Wheeled and caterpillar tractors are used for cultivating large areas. If the area of the site is small, you can dig the soil manually, to a depth of two bayonets of a shovel.

When choosing the depth of soil cultivation, the type of soil and the type of crop being grown are taken into account. Processing a layer of earth 20-30 cm thick increases the yield of sugar beets and potatoes. Farmers note an increase in the yield of potatoes by 20-22% and cereals (winter rye) by 25-28% with deep digging of sandy lands with the condition of simultaneous application of organic additives.

Deep plowing is an efficient but energy-intensive way of cultivating land. Therefore, it is advisable to alternate it with the usual method of soil cultivation and carry out once every 2-3 years. Or, alternatively, combine regular digging followed by deep loosening of strips of land.

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