Kverneland and AgXeed set world record for autonomous ploughing with AgBot in UK
While ploughing appears to become less fashionable than minimal tillage, it remains an important process in many areas.
Offered in 6.5 and 8 metre working widths, both trailed machines carry five banks of tines which fold to a manageable 3-metre transport width.
Aimed at cropping farmers and vegetable growers, the Turbo T is said to be particularly useful for dealing with maize stubbles or fodder beet residues, by offering 725mm of under-frame clearance, combined with a 190mm leg spacing.
Carrying 31 or 44 tines respectively, the 6500 and 8000 machines are equipped with the well-known Kverneland Triflex 400 tines with the instantly recognisable green, maintenance-free, leaf spring configuration. Offering up to 400kg resistance, the layout can operate at working depths of 3 to 20cm.
“The Turbo T is designed to operate at high speed, while maintaining a consistent depth, opening up the soil profile to encourage drainage and air flow,” says product manager-cultivation and seeding at Power Farming, JP Chapman.
“During testing, we’ve found the machine to be very versatile in the spring ahead of maize planting, going deeper to promote root growth. Likewise, post cereal harvesting, it can be use at high speed at shallower depths to promote weed and volunteer germination, with very impressive work rates.”
These machines offer a “full cut” across the whole working width, a combination of forward speed and resonance within the leg delivers good mixing of trash and organic matter, with the added benefit of a level finish. Power requirement is low at around 35-40hp per working metre.
Routine maintenance is also kept low with the use of high-grade steel and sealed bearing assemblies. For very high daily outputs, the machines have a maximum horsepower rating of 450hp
The standard point, a 60mm knock-on fitment, is suitable for working at depth to ensure full soil movement through the profile, while also offering time saving during replacement. For shallower operations or lighter soil types, options include a 150mm point or the “Tiger” point – specifically designed for stony soils.
Rear of the tines, a levelling element consists of a revolving disc configuration, which is suited to all conditions – particularly heavy land and high straw volumes.
Final consolidation and finishing is carried out by the rear-mounted, 565mm diameter Actipacker.
Ease of use is taken care of with hydraulic cylinders and spacers for depth control, with a separate manually-adjusted crank handle for the levelling element. If working depth is adjusted, a clever parallelogram linkage ensures the levelling system is also adjusted to maintain the quality of work.
In addition, the Automatic Load Transfer (ALT) system sees the front depth wheels linked to sensors that detect increasing load.
From here, the system adjusts to transfer up to 1800kg of force to the drawbar, helping to reduce wheel-slip by up to 10%.
The main transport wheels are mounted within the machine’s main frame.
This helps to deliver a sub-10 metre turn at headland, while also creating good weight transfer to the tractor during reversing manoeuvres.
