6 Benefits of Using a Power Harrow for Soil Preparation

6 Benefits of Owning a Power Harrow

If you’re preparing a soil bed for seed distribution, a harrow is an absolute necessity. Harrows are an important tool to farmers around the world, an essential part of surface tillage, used for breaking up and smoothing out the topsoil before seeds are planted into it.

Harrows have been used in a number of forms and iterations since the Neolithic age, but agricultural and technological developments have evolved with time, and farmers are now able to use the harrow’s successor: the power harrow.

More robust and more efficient than its predecessor, the power harrow is used today to turn soil and flatten seedbeds in preparation for sowing. There are, however, more benefits to power harrows than you might first imagine.

What is a power harrow?

A power harrow is a specialised piece of farming machinery used to prepare a seedbed. After a plough has been used to break and turn the first layer of soil on a seedbed, a power harrow can be used for surface-level tillage. The power harrow breaks up clumps of soil turned onto the surface by the plough, smoothing the seedbed in preparation for the planting of crops.

How does a power harrow work?

Power harrows feature a set of vertical tines attached to a rotating axis. As the power harrow moves, the tines are turned on the axis, rotating to till soil horizontally.

Benefits of using a power harrow

Power harrows are clearly an important piece of farming machinery, but boast a host of other benefits as well. The benefits of using a power harrow are:

Perfect soil preparation

The vertical rotation of the power harrow’s tines creates an aerated seedbed, optimal for crop growth and water management. Using a power harrow to prepare your seedbed increases the permeability of your soil, allowing for better drainage, thereby reducing the risk of root rot or water stagnation.

Reduces soil compaction

Using a power harrow reduces compaction in soil. The rotating axis which spins the vertical tines disrupts clods in the soil, all the while levelling the soil surface in preparation for seed distribution. As a result, soil becomes more aerated and less compacted, creating a better environment for growing crop.

Preserves soil health

Despite power harrowing being a method of seedbed preparation involving a moderate amount of tillage, power harrows still work to preserve the health of soil. The use of vertical tines means that soil is only tilled along one axis, providing aeration and improving porosity, while maintaining some of the soil’s natural composition. The result offered by the power harrow is a healthy, nutrient-rich seedbed which is also aerated, and which drains water well.

To learn about other ways to encourage healthy soil, read our article on improving soil health.

Prevents hardpan

Using a power harrow can also help farmers prevent the formation of hardpan in soil. Hardpan refers to a dense, compacted layer of soil, typically found just below the topsoil layer. Hardpan can cause a plethora of problems for farmers, most serious among them being the lack of drainage. By using rotating, vertical tines, power harrows break through compacted hardpan soil, aerating the seedbed and breaking up large clods.

Range of sizes

Power harrows are available in a wide range of sizes, from a number of brands, so you will be able to find the ideal piece of farm machinery to fit your needs. For UK farmers, power harrow widths can range from 2.5M or 3M for smaller models, all the way up to 6M models, ideal for preparing seedbeds in larger fields. There are also much smaller models on the market which have widths of under 1M, which can be attached to walking tractors. This is an ideal solution for individuals or farmers growing crops on a smaller scale. Larger models are often foldable, meaning they are easy to manoeuvre and store, and can also be folded up by one person, so are simple to use for a single farmer.

Low maintenance

Power harrows are a fairly low maintenance piece of machinery. All of the major moving parts of the machine are encased within, and provided they are well lubricated, these should last a very long time. The only particularly hard wearing parts of the power harrow are the blades, or tines, which are relatively quick and inexpensive to replace.

Power harrows have many uses

What is a power harrow used for? For most farmers, the immediate answer which springs to mind will be seedbed preparation. You may be surprised to learn, however, that power harrows have a multitude of uses beyond the agricultural industry. While the turning and levelling process of a power harrow is perfect for seedbed preparation, it can also prove ideal in the maintenance of equestrian riding arenas, walking trails and dirt tracks, sports fields, quad biking arenas and more.

Where can I buy used power harrows?

As one of the nation’s leading suppliers of used agricultural machinery, we offer a wide range of power harrows, ploughs and cultivators for sale, including popular brand ranges such as Kuhn, Amazone, Lemken, and more. With more than 30 years’ experience, we have the knowledge to help you get the best deal. Our nine-acre site has hundreds of machines in stock. We’re conveniently located in central England.

Our customer-centric approach is at the core of everything we do, ensuring all the farmers that choose us as their equipment partner save time and money while making the best decisions for their needs. Contact us today by calling 01926 640637, sending an email to sales@amtec.co.uk, or by using the form on our website. Discover the ways we can help - you won’t regret it!