| | Figure 1. Rotary tiller/cultivator in multiple narrow rows of mustard. |
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| | Figure 2. Close-up of rotary tiller/cultivator operating in very small cabbage. |
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| | Figure 3. Rotary tiller/cultivator operating on wide bed with 4 rows. |
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A standard sweep cultivator can do an excellent job of cultivating vegetable crops once the plants reach 4-6 inches, but it must run very slowly in small crops (1-2 inches) and has a tendency to throw soil over the crop plants. An alternative is a rotary tiller/cultivator (Figure 1).
Description
Rotary tiller/cultivators consist of small, individual rotary tiller units mounted on a common toolbar and driveshaft. Each unit is individually shielded to protect the crop and each floats up and down independently. Individual units are available in widths ranging from about 4 inches up to 30-40 inches and varying numbers can be put on one toolbar to fit different row configurations. Each unit is attached to the drive shaft by a chain case. Different lengths of chain cases are available to provide the needed crop clearance.
How to Use
Rotary tiller/cultivators should be equipped with cone guide wheels for precision guidance on beds. Rotary tiller/cultivators are excellent for use with small crop plants. They can aggressively till the smallest crop plants (less than 1 inch high) without damage or burial of the crop. The depth of cultivation can be controlled by increasing or decreasing spring tension on each gang.
Speed Limitation
The major limitation to the use of a rotary tiller/cultivator is speed. In a small crop (Figure 2), a speed of 1-2 mph may not be a problem, but this same speed limit holds even with a more mature crop. If a rotary tiller/cultivator is run faster than about 2 mph, it will “walk” out of the ground and not cultivate properly; thus the upper limit on speed for one of these machines is about 2 mph – regardless of crop size.
Operating in Crops on Beds
Operating on beds is a challenge for rotary tiller/cultivators. There is some flex built into each gang to allow the gangs to follow ground contours independently, but that flex is not adequate to allow operation on beds and in furrows (Figure 3). It is better to use longer chain housings for the furrow gangs and shorter chain housings (Figure 1) for the bed-top gangs. A rotary tiller-cultivator will not cultivate the bed sides, but the cone guide wheels actually do a good job of removing small weeds from the bed sides.
In summary, rotary tiller/cultivators can cultivate crop plants of all sizes without damage. They will work well on beds if properly set up. Their primary limitation is speed.