Tillage Index Based on Created Soil Conditions

The ambiguity of current tillage nomenclature has led to much confusion. This report explains a uniform, comprehensive tillage index that was developed to avoid that ambiguity. It is based on row topography, residue cover, roughness, and tillage depth that result from passage of the tillage tool rather than on the tillage tool used. Examples of the use of this tillage index are presented. This index, because of its percentage crop residue cover and potential surface water storage components, will be useful when the Universal Soil Loss Equation is to be used for estimating erosion potential on a given field

Method and apparatus for controlling the approach angle of a plow unit in response to speed variations

A moldboard plow implement includes an elongated tool bar and several moldboard plow units, each plow unit including a plow bottom and a plow bottom support frame connected to the tool bar for pivotal movement about a pivot axis situated in vertical alignment with the point of the respective plow bottom. The plow units are pivotally moved in unison in response to the plowing speed to maintain the specific plow resistance constant for all tractor speeds

A Variable Approach-Angle Moldboard Plow

A moldboard plow was modified such that the ap-proach-angle of the bottoms could be varied and held at a given angle by a hydraulic cylinder. Field tests of this plow verified that good plowing performance could be obtained at high travel speeds when the bottoms were operated at an approach-angle less than the design approach-angle