Vineyard plough

Work objective

In viticulture, two types of operation are carried out with the plough by changing the position of the bodies which pour the earth either to the right or to the left. When the strip of soil is poured towards the vine stocks, it is called " chaussage" (ploughing) ; when it is brought back to the centre of the row, it is called " déchaussage" (ploughing).

The operation that consists of clearing the strip of soil in the space between two vines is known as decavaillonnage, and cannot be carried out by the winegrower's plough, whose fixed bodies cannot retract to the level of the vines. A special plough is used: the decavaillonneuse plough.

Components of the vineyard plough

Vineyard plough technology

The vineyard plough is made up of the following main parts:

the frame
the ribs
the plough bodies

Working width

The width of the strip of land cut by the ploughshare determines the working width of the plough body. Most ploughs have a working width of 10 inches (one inch = 25.4 mm), although some small ploughs work to only 8 inches.
The ploughing depth should not exceed 2/3 of the width of the strip being worked.

The ploughshare

The ploughshare is a trapezoidal blade whose role is to cut the strip of soil horizontally and initiate its lifting.
Three types of share are used:

the square ploughshare, which has a square steel bar at the front end, the projection of which can be adjusted to compensate for wear. This type of share is particularly suited to stony ground, and is used in almost 90% of cases
the duckbill ploughshare is used in heavier soils, and has a sort of bulge at its front end
the straight projecting ploughshare, a basic type of ploughshare, is rarely used

The mouldboard

The mouldboard continues the turning of the strip of soil initiated by the share. There are several types:

the cylindrical mouldboard: its shape can be inscribed in the wall of a cylinder, its action on the structure is fairly brutal.
the semi-helical mouldboard, which is cylindrical in its first part and helical at the end of the turning process. It works more closely with the strip of earth, which is thus more firmly moulded.
the broken mouldboard is used to vary the deflection of the soil towards the vines. This can be useful when there is little distance between the end of the mouldboard and the vines and you want to leave little soil against them.

The ridger body

The ridging body is located at the rear of the plough in the ploughing position. It is a double body with two ploughshares and two mouldboards, one pouring the soil to the right and the other to the left.
In the ploughing position, the plough is equipped with the ridging body, which is a double body (it pours the soil to the right and to the left). The arrangement of the plough bodies forms an open V at the front. The right and left plough bodies are interchanged to form a truncated V with the end at the front of the plough.

Flanges

The flanges are the connecting parts between the ages and the frame. They must not have any play and must be adapted to the dimensions of the longitudinal members and ages (e.g. 50x30 or 60x30).

Adjustment and use of the vineyard plough

Coupling the plough to the tractor

To save time and ensure precision when fitting and adjusting ploughs and dethatchers, it is advisable to draw lines on level ground to represent the rows to be worked.
Working on level ground also makes it easier to see how to adjust the plough's horizontal position.

Length of stanchions

The length of the right and left stanchions must be exactly the same. This can be measured directly on the stanchions, or by taking a horizontal surface as a reference.

Plough centring

Inter-row tractor

The upper linkage rod must be perfectly aligned with the tractor's axis of travel; this adjustment is made with the stabilisers. The stabilisers must have a lateral clearance of 2 to 5 centimetres to allow gradual correction of the tractor's alignment in the row. If the stabilisers are clamped, given the rear overhang, the slightest touch of the steering wheel would cause a major reaction at the rear of the plough.

Straddle tractor

This adjustment is made by changing the position of the longitudinal members in relation to the row axis.

Working depth

Working depth is generally between 10 and 15 centimetres.

On inter-row tractors

It is set using the draft control or the combined control of the linkage. Position control is used for very heterogeneous soils, where using draft control would cause a constant variation in working depth, incompatible with regular work.
In all cases, the use of gauge wheels enables ploughing to be carried out at a constant depth.

On high-clearance tractors

The working depth is adjusted by the height of the tool carriers, using a hydraulic cylinder. Soil monitoring is carried out using chains connected to the spreader bar on the front axle.

Tamping

The heel adjustment determines the volume of soil worked by the front and rear plough bodies. The distance between the frame and the ground must be the same at the front and rear of the plough. Make this adjustment on flat ground.

On inter-row tractors

Corrections to heel are made by means of the upper coupling rod. Shortening it increases the plough's toe-in, while lengthening it increases the heel. The volume of soil worked by the various plough bodies is adjusted by the position of the ages on the flanges.

On high-clearance tractors

Depending on the type of implement carrier used (pulled or pushed), the action to be exerted on the adjustment rod will be reversed to obtain the same result.

Contact our expert

See the form