Plowing Performance with Two Helical Plow Bottoms at Shallow Operating Depths

A field experiment was conducted to determine the feasibility of shallow moldboard plowing using a Kongskilde semi-mounted variable-width plow. A split-split plot experiment was conducted with two sets of helical plow bottoms (the XL and V models), four bottom spacings and three operating depths. The XL model was longer (1460 mm versus 1360 mm) and had higher shin angle (30° versus 12°) than the V model; other geometrical features were very similar. Measurements were performed with an instrumented tractor by visual ratings and by quantitative assessments.