Plough – Overview, Types and Advantages

A plough is a farm implement used in agriculture for initial cultivation or tilling the soil and preparing it for sowing seeds by loosening and turning it. Ploughs were used to be drawn by animals like oxen and horses traditionally, but in recent times these are drawn by tractors. The procedure of loosening the soil for farming is known as ploughing. 

The key purpose of ploughing the soil is to turn over its upper layer, getting fresh nutrients to the upper surface, burying weeds and the remains of last crops same time to let them break down creating natural compost.

Types of Plough

Based on their need in the steps of creating a perfect seedbed, different types of plough are used in the process of ploughing the soil. These can also be divided into primary and secondary tilling tools. And a few can be used as primary as well as a secondary tool.

Disc Plough

A disc plough is compatible to work in all types of soil for the purposes of breaking, raising, turning and mixing it. This type of plough is mostly used in hard, dry and trashy land conditions and where scouring is a major problem and can be directly mounted to the tractors.

Mould-Board Plough

Using Moldboard plough provides soil pulverization and buries the weed seeds and residue completely. A Mould board plough turns soil completely to bring nutrients to the surface. The mould-board plough reduces the amount of time required in preparing a field significantly, as a consequence, allowing a farmer to work a larger piece of land in less time.

Rotary Plough or Rotavator

Also known as Rotary tiller in various parts of the world, a Rotary plough or Rotavator is compatible to work with different soil conditions and applications. Its rotating blades or rotors loosen and aerate the soil to ensure a perfectly levelled and finished seedbed. This piece of tillage equipment is quite popular as modern farm equipment among farmers.

Chisel Plough

Chisel Plough and subsoiler are used as deep tillage equipment to break up hardpan and packed soils.

Advantages of ploughing the Soil:

These are the advantages of ploughing the Soil:

• ·         Loosening of the soil improves its quality by exposing it to the sun and increasing air circulation.
• ·         The roots can enter deeper into the soil that allows it to hold the plant firmly.
• ·         Ploughing enhances the water preservation capacity of the soil.
• ·         Ploughing helps in uprooting the weeds growing in the field and supports the growth of microbes.