Stone buriers, the soft soil solution

In farming, soil quality plays a crucial role in crop yields. Well prepared terrain helps plants to grow by ensuring good drainage and uniform nutrient distribution. However, stones in the ground are a major challenge for every farmer, since they pose problems for tillage and limit crops’ production.

The crucial role of soil preparation

The seedbed consists of the most superficial soil layer, no more than the top 5 cm and, as we’ve already discussed , to guarantee uniform germination and strong plant growth, proper tillage of the ground where the seeds or vegetable seedlings are going to be placed is vitally important.

One part of the soil’s structure – which combines with other components, like sand or clay – is its skeleton, consisting of stones, clods and debris of varying sizes from 2 mm upwards. However, when this component becomes predominant, with a large number of big stones, it poses a major problem. In fact, it can prevent effective incorporation of seeds, restrict root expansion and even damage the machines themselves during tilling operations. Specific machines like stone buriers can overcome this problem and prepare soil well suited to:

• Favour the rooting of seedlings.
• Improve the absorption of water and nutrients.
• Prevent compacting and facilitate cultivation procedures.

Traditional or stone burier rotary tiller?

Especially as summer approaches , machines such as rotary tillers , both fixed and folding, can be seen in operation: driven by the PTO, they’re fitted with a rotor with blades or other tools that chop and crumble the soil. They’re ideal for soil preparation both in the open field and for vegetable crops.

When working conditions become tougher, a special type of rotary tillers, can be used: called stone buriers, they feature reverse rotation to bury stones and gravel deep down, leaving finely tilled soil, ideal for seeding, on the surface. Their operating principle basically comprises 3 phases:

1. The rotor – which must be ruggedly constructed in tough material – turns backwards in relation to the machine’s travel direction, lifting material from deep down and breaking up the soil.
2. This rotation conveys the material through a sorting grid, which separates out the largest stones and pieces of debris, trapping them and preventing them from returning to the surface.
3. The finely tilled soil passes through a screen and is evenly distributed by the levelling bar, which creates layers within the terrain: the top layer of soil will be thoroughly tilled, while the layer below will consist of stones and untilled soil.

The benefits of stone burier rotary tillers

Use of a stone burier rotary tiller provides many benefits, including:

• Effective stone removal: this prevents damage to machinery and makes the ground easier to till.
• More uniform soil: an essential factor for uniform crop growth.
• Optimised seeding: it reduces the risk of uneven germination.
• Better water retention: this ensures optimal water drainage.
• Saving of time and resources: fewer passes are needed to prepare the field.

What’s more, these models are designed to operate even on untilled ground or in challenging conditions. They can be used for bed shaping for some vegetable crops. One additional benefit is the reduction in weeds, which are buried during tilling, restricting their regrowth. This also favours sustainable farming practices by reducing the need for further action and the use of chemicals.

Alpego stone buriers: quality, efficiency and rugged strength

To provide reliable support the farmer can count on at all times, a stone burier must be innovative not only in its rotary systems but also in its structure. On the one hand, the Alpego patented central transmission improves performance and reduces fuel consumption and tilling times, essential factors for anyone working in the fields every day. On the other, to ensure a long working life the machine must be constructed with a durable main frame that will withstand stresses and wear.

Alpego’s wide range of patented rotary tillers is suitable for all types of soil, including even the most challenge, guaranteeing effective tilling and good seedbed preparation. These machines meet the needs of sector professionals (both farmers and contractors) thanks to their multiple benefits:

• Patented central gear transmission, unique of its kind, which ensures that the working width is the same as the machine’s overall width, with excellent weight balancing.
• Speed gear change on the entire range, for optimal selection of rotor rotation speed and adaptability to all conditions.
• High-strength steel structure able to withstand heavy loads while keeping the machine’s body weight down.
• Central and lateral mechanical seals, which protect the central transmission from water, mud and dust, guaranteeing reliability in all working conditions.

Check out the models available

Alpego stone burier rotary tillers are suitable for vegetable crops and open-field tilling, with working widths from 2.5 to 5 metres and compatibility with tractors from 90 to 280 HP. The main models are:

• IG INVERSA: with blade rotor with reverse rotation, ideal for burying stones, clods and crop residues. Available with widths of 2.5 – 3 m, for tractors from 90 to 170 HP.
• IZ INVERSA: same technology as the IG, but with widths of 3 – 4 m, suitable for tractors from 140 to 280 HP.
• POKER INVERSA: folding rotary tiller with dual central gear transmission, available with widths of 3.6 – 5 m, for tractors from 150 to 260 HP.

Conclusions

Stone burier rotary tillers are an ideal solution for every farmer wishing to maximise their field’s productivity. With its ability to create a layer of soft, fertile soil, this machine provides reliable tillage and guarantees an efficient crop. Therefore, given its quality it represents a good, safe investment for anyone seeking the best in terms of soil tillage.