Translations:Benutzer:Arian/Klett-Mini-Test/890/en

The classical instrument of deep working is the turning plough (Figure 13, p. 222). It has fallen into disrepute in organic farming on several counts, with the result that in many places there has been a turn toward "ploughless soil cultivation." Faults are laid at the door of plough-working that are not grounded in plough-working as such, but are the consequence of designs oriented chiefly toward labour-economic and technical efficiency. Today's ploughs — as a rule heavy, multi-share full-inversion ploughs — are designed for ploughing depths of 25 to 35 cm and more, and cutting widths of 35 to 45 cm. "Depending on the shape of the plough body and the ploughing speed, the soil is transported between 20 to 70 cm forward and 40 to 70 cm sideways." This high displacement compels a correspondingly higher expenditure of energy. In the process, far more lifeless mineral soil is turned upward and humus-bearing living topsoil is turned downward; and of necessity the furrow must be cleared broadly on account of the wide tractor wheels. One attempts to meet this problem with multi-share ploughs extending beyond the tractor's width, which allow driving outside the furrow — or else the plough is replaced by the heavy cultivator, disc plough, and the like.