A rotary tiller is an agricultural equipment with spinning blades perpendicular to the ground and designed like spokes, used for tilling the soil. It is also known as a rototiller, rotary hoe, rotavator, or rotary plow (or plough in British English).
You can use a rotary tiller for:
- Primary tillage (the first soil tillage following the last harvest)
- Secondary tillage (breaking up the clods and preparing the soil for the next planting)
- Cultivation, while the crops are growing
Under ideal conditions, the rotary tiller may do primary and secondary tillage simultaneously, creating an excellent seedbed. Under other conditions, the rotary tiller may do several passes that involve chopping up the existing vegetation and then preparing the seedbed.
In case the vegetation is heavy, the rotary tiller can do one or two passes, then leave it for a while until after the rain before it gets to do the tilling again. The process will help the existing vegetation to disintegrate. Primary tillage requires the slowest speed or lowest gear available. However, you can sometimes use a higher gear for the secondary tillage. It is best to always run your rotary tiller at full engine revolutions per minute (rpm), then shift up or down as necessary.
Selecting the right rotary tiller
Which type of rotary tiller is best for your needs? The right rototiller can make the gardening job much easier and less back-breaking. But if you choose the wrong one, it can take longer before finishing your job.
Rotary tillers can range in size, from small hand-held models to massive and heavy machinery, with corresponding distinctions in capacity. Here are some rotary tillers that may be best for your farm.
As you decide to purchase a rotary tiller, you must list down these questions:
- How big is the area you want to work?
- What features does the area have, e.g., open ground or crossed by rows or plants? Is the ground flat or sloping?
- How much horsepower (hp) does your tractor have?
- The type of soil: light or compact?
- How often and how long would you use the rotary tiller?
- How much is your budget?
Other essential factors to consider when choosing a rotary tiller:
- Petrol-driven or electrical
- The ideal balance between weight and power. The more powerful the machine is, the heavier it gets.
- The width of the rotor. The bigger the rotor, the less time is required to work the soil.
If you’re going to prepare your soil once a year, it would be best to consider renting a rotary tiller. It allows you to assess whether or not you should consider buying one.
Here are some of the rotary tiller suggestions:
Falc Type A
(Product name: A900)
Type A, produced by an Italian agricultural machine manufacturer Falc, is a rotary tiller for light to medium soils with a single-speed gearbox (312 rpm).
- Rotor with 4 helical hoes per disc
- 30 hp max
- 540 rpm PTO with shear bolt protection
- Low-maintenance chain side drive
- Depth control skids
Falc Type BS – BS Super
(Product name: B-1250 Super)
The Type BS – BS Super is a rotary tiller with a single-speed gearbox (250 rpm).
- For 20 to 50-hp tractors
- Model BS: 4 blades per flange
- Model BS – Super: 6 blades per flange
- 540 rpm PTO with shear bolt
- Depth control skids standard
Falc Type C Super
(Product name: C-1300 Super)
The Type C Super is a rotary tiller with a single-speed or four-speed gearbox (206 rpm).
- For 40 to 70-hp tractors
- Gear side drive
- 540 rpm PTO with slip clutch protection.
- Six blades per flange
- Depth control skids
Type D
(Product name: D4-1600)
Type D is a rotary tiller with a D4-4 speed gearbox
- For 60 to 100-hp tractors
- Gear side drive
- 540 rpm PTO with slip clutch
- 6 blades per flange
- Depth control skids
Type EL
(Product name: EL 2500)
The Type EL rotary tiller has a 2-speed gearbox (1 only on 1000 rpm PTO)
- For 60 to 120 tractors
- 540 or 1000 rpm PTO
- Category II hitch
- Standard PTO with slip clutch
- Spike-type rotors and straight-blade rotors are available.
Falc FL 3000
(Product name: FL 3000)
The Falc FL 3000 features front discs and a front adjustable trace breaker.
- For 80 to 140-hp tractors
- 1000 rpm PTO
- Gearbox with interchangeable gears
- Gear side drive
- Category II hitch
- PTO shaft with torque limiter
- Spike-type rotors and straight-blade rotors are available.
Falc Gamma Folding
(Product name: Gamma 5000)
A folding rotary tiller is powerful, durable, and reliable even in the most difficult conditions.
- Rear trailing board extensions
- Dual end drives
- 1000 rpm PTO with torque limiter
- 330 rpm rotor
- Durafaced tiller blades; 6 blades per flange
- Quick hitch compatible Cat III hitch
- Also available with a spike rotor.
- Double rotor flanges.
Rotary tillers make gardening easier to manage, save money, and save labor when preparing the soil for planting. When choosing a rotary tiller, you should consider the size of the area you want to work on, how often and how long you will use the rotary tiller, and your budget, among other factors.