Copyright AgriMech

Interest in minimum tillage is growing. This is not surprising. You keep the organic matter at the top and soil life can continue to do its work undisturbed. This leads not only to lower tillage costs, less erosion, better infiltration and drainage, but also to better soil structure. The problem, however, is that it gives weeds the wind in their sails, especially at a time when the use of chemical herbicides is under pressure. One solution is shallow plowing, or eco-plowing.

For that job, Kverneland already had the Ecomat eco-plow in the program since 2004. Fine implement, but you always had to drive one wheel through the plow furrow with it. Now that virtually all tractors are equipped with GPS autopilot, farmers prefer to plow overhead. Then they can mount wide low-pressure tires and that reduces soil compaction.

And overhead plowing can be done with the Ecomat On-land with eight or 10 shears introduced last year. The plow borrowed the frame from Kverneland's LO plow. To improve the geometry, the manufacturer also used the longer plow stems from the LO plow. As a result, the new Ecomat is much wider and taller than the old one.

Plastic risters

The risters turn the ground 180 degrees so that crop residue is well covered even when plowing shallowly. Buyers can choose between more wear-resistant and cheaper steel risters or plastic risters. Heavy soil does not stick to these as easily, making them lighter to pull. Furthermore, you can choose a combined knife coulter-straw insert or a separate knife coulter and straw guide.

The Ecomat On-land is not a variation plow. Those who want to plow deeper will have to manually increase the working width of the scissors a bit. This can be done in five steps between 30 to 50 cm per plough blade.

An option is the Trailer Transport Solution (TTS). In this, the plow rides on the depth wheel as a trolley behind the tractor during transport. Additional cost of this option (including the mandatory EU approval) is 4,750 euros.

In the middle behind the tractor

The ten-shank Kverneland Ecomat hangs in the middle behind the tractor. The Ecomat is not a variable plow. If you want to plow deeper, you can increase the scissor width from 30 to 50 cm in five steps.

Plastic shears

Kverneland can supply the Ecomat with and more wear-resistant steel risters or with more expensive plastic risters. Both turn the soil 180 degrees. Soil sticks less well to the plastic so the plow pulls lighter with these risters.

Depth wheel

A large depth wheel is mounted at the rear (420/55-17.5). If you choose the Trailer Transport Solution (TTL), the plow runs like a trolley behind the tractor during transport on this wheel.

Kverneland Ecomat On-land

Most striking - The Ecomat allows you to plow shallow, without a wheel driving into the front.
What's disappointing? - Flat plowing is only possible with shallow plowing if the land is already flat
What does it deliver? - Lots of capacity. Working widths of up to 5 meters and driving speeds of up to 12 km/h are possible with the ten-shear.

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