Soil Cultivation

Question 1

what is primary soil cultivation?

Answer 1

It is necessary for preparing a patch of land for planting

Question 2

what are the main methods of primary soil cultivation?

Answer 2

digging
double digging
preparation of a tilth

Question 3

Where are rotary cultivators best used?

Answer 3

on ground already dug, or when the surface is not covered in weeds or vegetation.

Question 4

what does a rotary cultivator do?

Answer 4

it breaks up the top soil to prep. a seedbed or planting bed - it will not bury compost like digging.

Question 5

how does a rotary cultivator produce a fine tilth?

Answer 5

the forward speed of the machine and blades and the position of the rear shield/flap.

A very fine tilth is created by a slow forward speed and a high blades speed

Depth is determined by adjusting a skid

Question 6

How else can a tilth be produced without using a rotary cultivator?

Answer 6

use of a fork/rake to break up clods, lumps and removing stones etc.

Question 7

Label the parts of a rotary cultivator.

Answer 7

Rotor blades
Adjustable hood
Motor
Handles/control
Moveable arms for direction
Land wheels to move between sites
Rotor shield-protect from debris
Central flange

Question 8

What is the best time for vegetable bed cultivation?

Answer 8

It is dependant on weather conditions.

You do not want to work on soil when it is too wet/waterlogged-esp. clays, or when it is too dry.