First results on the use of an innovative machine for soil tillage in terraces or steep sloped areas

Abstract

In environments characterized by steep slopes or arranged in terraces, the cultivator equipped with rotary chisel is extensively used. However, the effect of the repeated use of the rotary chisel has a considerable influence on soil characteristics; it appears finely powdered, soft and without structure. In order to limit these inconveniences, an innovative self-propelled machine equipped with working tools as a spade, to be used in steep slopes or arranged in terraces areas, was designed. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of the work of this innovative machine and compare it with that of a conventional rotary chisel. From the first tests emerge that the use of the self-propelled machine allowed to obtain an higher cloddiness than the conventional one, hoping that the introduction of this machine in steep sloped areas, where the rotary chisel is well spread, would contribute to limit the problems associated with the use of the traditional one besides eliminating the plow sole.