Agricultural Science Grade 8

Topic: Tractor Attachments

Tractor attachments are equipment linked to the tractor in order to carryout various farm
operations.
Types of Tractor Attachments
Tractor attachments are categorised based on the farming operation to be done. The major
categories of tractor attachments are:
1. Primary Tillage Implements
2. Secondary tillage implements
3. Other implements

Primary Tillage Implements

Primary tillage implements are also known as ploughs and they are used during the first
stage of land preparation to upturn the soil to a certain depth. Examples of Primary tillage
implements include the mould board plough, disc plough, chisel plough and the rotary
plough.
Mould-board Plough: this type of plough is suitable for use on light soils with little to no
obstacle. The skim-coulter on this type of plough cleans the disc as the plough works. The
mould-board is a curved steel plate that upturns the soil. The depth of the furrow is
controlled by the depth wheel or the hydraulic system.
Disc Plough: this type of plough is suitable for use on heavy soils with obstacles. They may
have two or more large metal discs arranged on a metal beam. Each disc has a scraper
which functions much like the mould-board’s skim-coulter.
Chisel Plough: this type of plough, also called sub-soiler, is designed to break up hard pan
(compact soil) found in the sub-soil layer. It has a very strong frame which carried five
rigid tines used to break up the soil.
Rotary Plough: this type of plough is suitable for use on light soils. These ploughs have to
be attached to the p.t.o shaft of the tractor and most of them have ‘L’ shaped blades.

Secondary Tillage Implements

Secondary tillage implements are also known as harrows. Harrows are mainly used to break
up rough surface areas and to refine the soil after ploughing. Examples of secondary tillage
implements include the disc harrow, tine harrow, chain harrow and rotovator.
Disc Harrow: this is the most popular harrow used in mechanised crop production. The
design of a disc harrow is very similar to that of the disc plough. The differences are that
the disc harrow has smaller and more discs than the plough. The discs of the harrow are
arranged closely on the metal beam to form a gang and the disc harrow may have two or
more gangs.

Prepared by O. Bobb 2020.04.30

Agricultural Science Grade 8

Tine Harrow: this type of harrow breaks up large soil clods whilst stirring the soil particles.
The tines on the tine harrow are slightly curved which allows for the removal of plant
material in the soil.
Chain Harrow: this type of harrow is used to spread the manure of grazing animal in the
pastures. It is made in the form of a chain link mat.
Rotovators: These are smaller roatary ploughs. They work best on light soils. Rotovators
are used to refine the soil to form seed beds. The rotovator can plough, harrow and refine
the soil all at the same time.

Other Tractor Implements

Other tractor implements are used to carry out other farming operations. Example of other
cultivation equipment which can be attached to a tractor are:
Ridgers: these are used to make ridges and furrows after harrowing.
Seed Planters: planters or drills are used to sow seeds. Seed planters are designed to make
small furrows for the seeds, drop the seeds at the precise rate, cover the seeds after they
have been sown and lightly compress the soil over the seed.
Fertiliser: also known as a fertiliser spreader. This is used to broadcast fertiliser over the
field.
Manure spreader: this is a specially designed trailer with a conveyor belt built into the floor.
The spreader is operated by the trailer wheels or the p.t.o shaft. The trailer shreds the
manure and flings it onto the field as the tractor moves.
Cultivators: these basically stir the soil particles to keep the soil loose between rows of
crops. The tines of cultivators allow then to work deeper in the soil than harrows.
Boom sprayers: these are used to spray liquid chemical substances over the soil / crops.

Prepared by O. Bobb 2020.04.30

Agricultural Science Grade 8

Videos to Watch:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUL-Fqb0sak
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCqcKAHs0EU
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d8lbvon2Bo
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBjkBoakx3E

Individual Tasks: (to be done in books)

1. Draw and label a diagram of the mould-board plough.

Prepared by O. Bobb 2020.04.30