SOIL PREPARATION

CHAPTER 7

FIGURE 7.12: Wiggle plough; moving tines were powered by the power take-off of the tractor and the loosening action occurred between the tractor tracks (Photos: ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij). Currently, a wiggle plough dating from the 1990’s is still being used in South Africa by a contractor (Figure 7.13). This plough has six tines driven by the power take-off of the tractor. Although there is a 40 % cost saving in soil preparation through the use of this plough compared to bulldozers with conventional ploughs, it can only reach 70 cm depth which is less than the optimum depth required by grapevines. This particular wiggle plough needs a large tractor that does not fit among normal vineyard rows and can therefore only be used for loosening the soil before planting. The grape industry may benefit from a smaller wiggle plough that fits into existing vineyards and they should therefore search among suppliers for the existence of such an implement.

FIGURE 7.13: A wiggle plough with six blades driven by the tractor’s power take-off for deep soil loosening. (Photo: J. de Jager, Vinpro).

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