Effects of design and kinematic parameters of rotary cultivators on soil structure.

In comparison with drawn implements, rotary cultivators are of particular interest in final seedbed pr eparation. In this paper, a quantitative basis for the descriptio n of soil structure created by rotary tillers is gi ven. Undisturbed Ap horizon samples were collected, impregnated with polyester resin, sectioned by sawing and analysed by means of a Quantimet 720 image-analysing computer. Total porosity, area and size of pores are related to the design and kinematic parameters of the rotary culti vator, arising from an analysis based upon the loca tion of instant centres of velocity. It is shown that using a rotary cultivator with a higher ratio of periphe ral to forward velocity leads to a smaller total mean porosity whi ch is more homogeneous.