Planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor
Planting potatoes is a complex and labor-intensive process that takes a lot of time. With the help of a walk-behind tractor and the corresponding attachments, it is much easier to plant without wasting your own time and effort.
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How to plant potatoes under a walk-behind tractor?
Depending on the volume of the planted area, there are two main methods:
- hiller with regulator;
- a mounted planter designed specifically for potatoes.
The first option is budget-friendly, easy to implement and suitable for small areas with well-prepared land. The second is used over large areas.
Hiller method
The design of additional equipment consists of several functional parts:
- Conveyor. A conveyor belt that delivers seed directly to the prepared soil.
- Furrowmaker. A device that makes furrows in a plot.
- Distributor. Depending on the settings, tubers are supplied at a strictly defined time.
- Hiller. Loosens the soil and covers the planted tubers with soil on top.
The unit is pre-configured, wheels are installed that make furrows and a special hopper into which the seed is poured. The wheels are replaced with rubber ones and set to a larger width so as not to harm the root crops.
As it moves, the hiller simultaneously loosens the ground and covers the tubers that have fallen into the holes with soil.The entire process occurs automatically, requiring no operator assistance other than pushing the walk-behind tractor forward and adding potatoes to the hopper.
Using a mounted potato planter
To use such attachments, you will have to carry out preliminary preparation of the landing site. First, thoroughly loosen the soil and harrow. This will allow the crop to receive sufficient moisture and air during ripening.
If possible and necessary, moisten the soil.
This design also consists of several parts:
- furrowmaker;
- bunker;
- several disks that cover the tubers with soil.
Before use, we secure the attachments, special wheels capable of gripping soil, and get started. The landing is carried out in one session of the operator’s work, without additional outside intervention.
Landing rules
Regardless of the chosen method, there are several basic rules that should be followed during agricultural work. In particular, the planting depth should not be less than 10–15 cm, and the distance between holes should not be more than 20–30 cm.
After loosening, we recommend fertilizing the soil. This will help increase the amount of harvest.
Sometimes a plow is used. It also makes landing easy. You need to throw in the tubers at the moment of creating a furrow and move on to a new one. Making holes at a distance, the walk-behind tractor covers the previous ones with earth.
