The finishing roller is one of the most important components of a tillage machine. Firstly, the roller helps to set the working depth; and secondly, it is the roller that determines the final condition of the soil after the machine has passed over it. The choice of finishing roller depends mainly on what the machine will be used for. We distinguish between finishing, crumbling and compacting rollers. Each of these types is suitable for a different soil type and different field conditions. When choosing a finishing roller for a machine, it is therefore worth knowing what the machine is to be used for and what the desired end result is. Which roller for a disc harrow? Which roller for a tillage combination? We invite you to read our article!
Which shaft is best for a disc harrow?
A disc harrow is a machine used mainly for shallow post-harvest tillage, the removal of catch crops, fallow land, etc. Farmers often use disc harrows for shallow pre-sowing tillage as well, to level and prepare the field for sowing. You can find out more about disc harrows and their operating parameters in our previous article entitled: ‘Shallow but effective – stubble cultivation and sowing catch crops’. Today, we will focus specifically on which roller to fit to a disc harrow in order to achieve the best possible results in the field.
Single or twin roof-type roller, Ø 600 mm
The roller that is most popular amongst farmers is, of course, the single or twin (tandem) roof-type roller, Ø 600 mm. This roller consists of rings resembling ‘roofs’, spaced 15 cm apart (in the case of a single roller). The purpose of this roller is to press crop residues into the soil and reduce soil evaporation, which is of great importance during the summer months. The Ø 600 mm roof-shaped roller is suitable for all soil types, from light to very heavy. Thanks to its ring-shaped design, the roof-shaped roller creates depressions in the field where water collects.
Disc roller (steel) Ø 600 mm
A disc roller is a very heavy roller consisting of disc-like segments. It is designed for heavy soils and is intended to press crop residues down as firmly as possible. The discs of the steel roller are mounted on a thick tube, making the roller far more suitable for heavy soils, as light soil tends to clog the system. The Ø 600 mm disc roller compacts the soil and crop residues exceptionally well, thereby facilitating their decomposition.
Single or double channel-section roller, Ø 600 mm
A channel-section roller is a roller consisting of channel-section rings arranged longitudinally relative to the machine. It is a heavy roller that compacts the soil very effectively and is best suited to light and medium-textured soils. The main idea is that the channel section rings should become clogged with soil, with the result that the soil compacts the soil itself. This is very beneficial from the perspective of building soil structure; however, the disadvantage is the significantly greater weight, as the soil can add as much as an extra 100–200 kg. A channel-section roller compacts the soil excellently, particularly on lighter soils.
Which roller for a cultivator?
A cultivator is a machine used for final soil preparation before sowing cereals or rapeseed, or planting potatoes. An example of such a cultivator is the COBALT, a machine particularly recommended for preparing fields before planting potatoes. You can find out how to prepare a field for potatoes in our blog post entitled: ‘Potato cultivation from scratch – soil preparation and nutritional requirements’. Today, we’ll focus on which roller to fit to the COBALT unit to ensure the best possible conditions for planting potatoes.
Double tube-and-flat-bar roller, Ø 500 x 350 mm
The double tube-and-flat-bar roller, Ø 500 x 350 mm, is a roller specifically designed for pre-sowing or pre-planting cultivation of potatoes. It is a tandem roller, in which the first roller – the tubular one – is designed to gently compact the tilled soil, whilst the smaller flat-bar roller positioned immediately behind it breaks up clods. After the machine fitted with this roller has passed over the field, the soil is thoroughly loosened and mixed, and the field is perfectly levelled.
Double flat-bar roller, Ø 500 x 350 mm
An alternative for those working on heavy, clayey soils is the double flat bar roller. This roller is structurally identical to the tube-and-flat-bar roller mentioned above; the only difference is the use of a Ø 500 mm flat bar roller at the front instead of a Ø 500 mm tubular roller. This design is intended to break up clods and lumps even more thoroughly in heavy, clayey soil.
Which roller for a no-till cultivator?
A no-till cultivator is a machine used to prepare the field for sowing in a single pass. It is therefore particularly important to choose the right equipment. You can find out which coulters to choose for a no-till cultivator in our blog post entitled: ‘Types of coulters for a no-till cultivator – cultivation with or without coulters?’. So which roller should you choose? There are two favourites here, depending on the type of soil being worked.
Single or double roof-type roller, Ø 600 mm
For this machine, this roller performs best on slightly lighter soils. It compacts the soil perfectly and prepares the field for sowing, creating excellent conditions for plant growth.
Steel roller, Ø 600 mm
For heavy soils, the clear favourite is the Ø 600 mm steel roller. Thanks to its heavy weight, it will compact the soil superbly and prepare the field for sowing. The roller’s large diameter means it does not become clogged even when there is a large amount of crop residue.
