Minimun Till Chisel Ploughs

CONSERVATION TILLAGE – The Ndume Way

 Conventional Ploughing Destroys your Soils. It is a well-known fact that conventional ploughing (disc and mouldboard) causes a hard pan and compaction underground. Very shallow depths are usually achieved with conventional ploughing. Generally, disc ploughing will require at least two harrow passes to obtain a suitable seedbed. This leaves the soil very susceptible to wind and water erosion. The more you disturb the soils, the more you destroy soil building microorganisms. Turning soil exposes your valuable moisture to the sun, thus burning this moisture away. The sun kills the microorganisms that help build up your soils.

Chisel Ploughing

Chisel ploughing is a soil loosening exercise. A Chisel plough shatters underground soil – no turning of soil takes place and therefore previous seasons moisture is left underground. It also opens up soil thus allowing moisture to penetrate deep down where it should be.  We call this “putting rain in the bank”.

Hard pans are destroyed thus allowing crop roots to penetrate deeper into soil profile. In time no other implement is needed to get seedbed ready for planting. Each year soils will become easier to work, so land preparation costs can be cut by up to 60%.

Chisel ploughing increases crop yields, and ensures a crop even in the driest of years due to soil conditioning and moisture conservation. Chisel ploughs are generally cheaper to purchase when compared to good quality Disc Ploughs.

NDUME CHISEL PLOUGHS

Previously chisel ploughing with a small tractor (30 to 80 HP) was difficult because the tractor was unable to pull a chisel plough that was the same width of the tractor. Due to this constraint, Ndume Ltd has designed a number of chisel plough options that are suited to smaller tractors. Our range of chisel ploughs now suits tractors of 30 to 250 HP

1. Conventional NDUME Chisel Plough

Conventional Chisel Ploughs are available from 5 to 15 tines, thus suiting tractors from 90 to 250HP. These chisel ploughs prepare the complete seed bed and are ideal for larger farmers of wheat, barley and all other crops that are planted in narrow rows. Soil penetration depths of 12 to 15 inches are possible. Crumble Rollers are recommended to break down soil clods. Depth control is carried out by the Crumble Roller. It is easy and simple to set up in the field.

2. NDUME “In-Line” Chisel Plough

Suited to smaller horse power tractors (30 to 80HP), and available in 2, 3 and 4 tined options. It is designed in the same configuration as a conventional disc plough, and has a rear wheel to control depth and also eliminate side draft. All tractor wheels remain on the surface and NOT one wheel in the furrow as with conventional ploughing – less compaction. These chisel ploughs prepare the complete seed bed and are ideal for medium and smaller scale farmers of wheat, barley and all other crops that are planted in narrow rows.  Soil penetration depths of 12 to 15 inches are possible, and likewise they are easy and simple to set up in the field.

3. NDUME “Rip-on-Row” Chisel Plough

Ideally suited for row crops such as maize and beans. Tines, Crumble Rollers and optional Cutting Coulters are all adjustable across tool bar to suit different row widths. Only cultivates the area that you are going to plant into and leaves the land in between untouched – saving valuable costs. The moisture available therefore runs into your rip lines. Following season you rip in between the rows previously cultivated, leaving the last crop standing stalks and root system in the ground as a source of food for microorganisms. This system has outstanding results in marginal rainfall areas. Soil penetration depths of 12 to 15 inches are possible.

HIGHLIGHTS

• All Ndume chisel ploughs are designed for our harsh East African conditions
• Ndume Chisel Ploughs are therefore very strong, long lasting and durable
• All tines are designed to easily penetrate the ground, even in the hardest soils
• Each chisel plough tine is protected with a shear bolt, these shear bolts are designed to break when hard objects are encountered thus protecting the chisel plough. In rocky and stumpy conditions an option of an Auto-Rest Chisel Plough is available.
• All Ndume chisel ploughs are easy to set up in the field, simply hitch the chisel to the tractor 3 point linkage and ensure the plough is level both ways
• Minimal maintenance is required in the field when compared to a disc plough, generally maintenance can be carried out by the farmer himself
• Each tine is supplied with a reversible chisel point, these are easily available across the country and easily fitted
• Ndume also manufactures an assortment of planters to suit a wide range of tractor HP and farming practices – minimum tillage to conventional farming methods.