FARM MACHINERY

Tractor Drawn Implements

•  These are implements which are attached to the tractor during operation

State the two categories of tractor drawn Implements

1. One-point hitch implements ;

• Are attached to the tractor at only one point that is, the draw bar.
• They include all trailed implements such as the trailers, heavy harrows, planters and roller

1. Three point hitch implements

• Are implements attached to the tractor at three points that is, the top linkage point and two lower linkage point
• They are operated by the hydraulic system.
• They include ploughs, most harrows, sub­soiler, planters, mower, ridgers, sprayers and rotavators.

1. TRAILERS

• They are one-point hitch implements.
• They are used for transportation of goods.
• Small ones have two wheels while big ones have four wheels.
• Can be maintained as follows:

1. All the moving parts should be lubricated.
2. Tyre pressure should be adjusted to the correct pressure.
3. Worn out tyres should be replaced.
4. Loose nuts and bolts should be tightened, worn-out ones should be replaced.
5. The implements should be kept under a shed during long storage.

2. PLOUGHS

• They are primary tillage implements.
• The common type of ploughs include:

• Disc plough
• Mould board ploughs.

Disc ploughs

•  It is made up of heavy steel concave discs of 60-70cm diameter.
• Has the following parts as discussed below:

1. The hitchmast: Is an attachment for the three point hitch. Made up of two side links and a top link. These are parts connected to hydraulic system of a tractor for lifting and pulling.
2. The beam: Supports all other parts. It also adds weight for better penetrati
3. Depth wheel:
   • Used when driving on highway,
   • it also controls the depth of plou
   • May not be present in all disc ploughs.
4. The standard or leg: Connects the discs to the beam.
5. The hub: Allows the discs to rotate smoothly hence does the cutting of furrow slices.
6. The scrapers: Remove the trash and mud or soil which cling to the discs,
7. Disc blades: Cut and invert the furrow slice
8. Rear furrow wheel: Controls the depth of digging and stabilises the discs.

Care and maintenance

• Check for loose nuts and bolts and replace them.
• Sharpen the disc blades if blunt.
• Lubricate the rotating parts by use of oil/grease to reduce friction.
• Paint the exposed parts for example the beam/framework.
• Clean the implement at the end of each day's work before storage.
• Store the implements in a shed.
• The unpainted parts should be coated with old engine oil to prevent rust.

Mouldboard plough

• This primary tillage implement is suited in areas without obstacles such as stones, tree stumps, and roots.
• It gives a uniform depth of ploughing.

Parts and functions of mouldboard plough

• Share: This makes the horizontal cut and starts the turning of the furrow slices.
• Mouldboard: Continues the turning of the furrow slices and pulverizes the soil.
• Disc coulter: Makes a vertical cut in the soil to separate the furrow slice from the un-ploughed land.
• Skim coulter: Removes any trash from between the furrow slices.
• Frog: It is the part where the share, mould board and the landside are attached
• Landside: Stabilizes the plough and absorbs the side forces created when furrow is turned.
• Shin: Leading edge of a mouldboard.
• Knife coulter: Is a vertical knife which cuts trash and earth ahead of the share.

OPERATIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A MOULDBOARD PLOUGH AND DISC PLOUGH

3.  HARROWS

• Are used for secondary tillage
• Their main uses are to level the seedbed, break soil clods, stir the soil and destroy weeds. Some are capable of burying trash.
• Types of harrows include:

1. Disc harrows
2. Spring tine harrows
3. Spike toothed harrows

1. Disc harrow

• Has concave discs which are in series of 5-8 discs. These discs are joined together on a shaft to form gangs and are set at certain angle to the direction of travel. The discs can be plain-edged or notched.
• Can be maintained as follows:

1. Disc bearing should be lubricated after a day’s work.
2. The discs which are damaged should be repaired or replaced.
3. Trash or soil should be removed from the harrow after use.
4. Old engine oil should be applied on all parts of the harrow before storage for long periods.
5. The bolts and nuts should be checked
6. Loose bolts and nuts should be tightened.

b. Spring tine harrow

• Has coiled tines mounted on a frame of beams.
• It breaks soil clods by means of vibrating effect of the tines.
• It also collects trash and levels the ground
• Can be maintained as follows:

1. Replace worn out tines
2. Loose bolts should be tightened and lost ones replaced.
3. Clean after days work
4. Oil unpainted parts during long storage

c. Spike toothed harrow

• Has several strong pointed spike or tines.
• They are either curved and flattened or pointed at the tips.
• They are used for incorporating fertilizers into the soil, breaking the soil clods, leveling the surface and removing trash from the field.
• Maintained as follows:

1. Worn out parts should be replaced.
2. Clean after the days work
3. Loose bolts and nuts should be tightened
4. Unpainted parts should be oiled before long storage.

4.  RIDGERS

• Used for making ridges
• As they are pushed through the field they form ridges and furrows in between the ridges.
• Can be maintained as follows:

1. The soil sticking on the mouldboard should be scrapped after days work
2. Worn out shares should be replaced and broken parts repaired
3. Should be properly stored in the shed when not in use
4. Nuts and bolts should be tightened
5. For long storage unpainted parts should be oiled to prevent rusting.

5 SUBSOILERS

• Used for breaking hardpans and facilitating aeration and water infiltration in the soil.
• Maintained as follows:

1. Worn out parts should be replaced/repaired
2. Unpainted parts should be oiled during long storage to prevent rusting
3. The subsoiler should be cleaned after days work
4. Should be stored in the shed when not in use

6. ROTAVATORS

• Used in soft soil conditions
• Useful in paddy fields where they are used to work the flooded fields to produce a fine mud in preparation for planting.
• Operated by tractor PTO shaft and attached to the three point hitch linkage.

Maintenance

• Clean after use
• Replace worn out parts
• Moving parts should be lubricated
• Unpainted parts should be oiled during long storage
• Nuts and bolts should be tightened

7. MOWERS

• Used for cutting grass for hay-making and also for cutting silage crops where forage harvesters are not available.
• Used for clearing vegetation from the field before it is ploughed and cutting grass lawns

Reciprocating Mower

Parts and Functions

• Swath stick: Keeps the cut crop falling correctly.
• Swath board: To remove the cut crop.
• Shoe: Has a runner to absorb the weight and wear.
• Cutter bar: Is a flat bar which guides the fingers.
• Wear plate: Counteracts downward force and holds the knives.

Adjustments

• To adjust knife register by moving the whole bar away or towards the yoke.
• Knife lead: The outer shoe should be adjusted to be outer than the inner shoe by 4cm.

Maintenance

• Check for loose nuts and bolts and tighten where necessary.
• Keep knife section sharp.
• Lubricate the knife parts.
• Check knife to ledger plate cup for best cutting.
• Keep all the parts tight.

 Rotary Mowers

• Cutting edge consists of two blades fitted opposite to each other on horizontal disc.
• The cutting blades swing round at high speed horizontally to the ground hence cutting is affected.

Adjustment and Maintenance

• Blades should be sharp.
• Guards to be fitted around the blades to protect the operator from flying objects.
• Lubricate the P.T.O. shafts.
• Check the gear-box oil regularly and fill to the right level if necessary.

8. PLANTERS

• Used for placing seeds at the correct spacing, depth and density in order to obtain required plant population per hectare.
• Maintained as follows:

1. Moving parts should be lubricated
2. Seed hoppers and fertilizer containers should be cleaned after use
3. Nuts and bolts should be tightened
4. The broken parts and worn out parts should be repaired and replaced.
5. The coulter tubes should be free from any blockage for efficient seed passage

9. CULTIVATORS/WEEDERS

• Used for weeding.
• Maintained as follows:

1. Loose nuts and bolts should be tightened
2. Trash and soil should be removed from the implement after use
3. Broken and worn out parts should be repaired or replac3ed
4. The implement should be kept in the shed during long storage

10. SPRAYERS

• Used for applying either pesticides, herbicides or foliar feeds.
• Maintained as follows:

1. The tank of the sprayer should be drained before and after use

2. All the nozzles should be removed and cleaned when blocked

3. The tank and all other parts should be washed thoroughly with clean water and drained

4. All parts that are prone to rusting should be cleaned and painted

11. HARVESTERS

1. Combine harvesters for harvesting grain crops
2. Root crop harvesters
3. Forage harvesters

Combine Harvester

 Use

• Harvesting cereal crops for example maize, wheat and barley.
• It is designed to do the following:

• Cutting
• Threshing
• Winnowing
• Bagging

Parts of a Combine Harvester

• Cutter bar - cuts the grain head.
• Pick up reel- direct crop into the cutter bar,
• Elevator - channels the cut grain to the threshing drum.
• Winnowing ran - fans trash up onto a straw walker and directs it out of the combine harvester.
• Delivery tube - delivers the clean .grains into a collecting tank from where it is bagged.

Maintenance of a Combine Harvester

• Loose nuts and bolts should be tightened.
• Remove all foreign materials stuck in the machine at the end of the day's work.

12. SHELLERS

• They are used to scrap off maize from the cob as they are fed into the machine.

ANIMAL DRAWN IMPLEMENTS

1. OX-PLOUGH

• Beam: All components of the plough are attached here. Also adds weight to the plough for better penetration.
• Handles: Enable the operator to set the implements in the proper direction when ploughing
• Mouldboard: Inverts furrow slices
• Share: Cuts furrow slices horizontally
• Landside: Presses against the wall of the unploughed land and helps stabilize the plough
• Land wheel: Regulate the depth of ploughing
• Draft rod: The rod together with the chain form the draught mechanism of the plough.

2. OX-TINE HARROW

• Used for breaking soil clods, collecting trash, levelling the seedbed and covering planted seeds.

1. Name two one-point hitch implements.
2. Name three implements attached to a tractor at three points.
3. Describe the parts of an oxplough.