Mechanical Working and Implement Design
A tractor ridger cuts through loosened seedbed soil and throws it outward in both directions to shape raised beds.
Key design elements:
- Adjustable mouldboard wings: Steel wings can be expanded or contracted to adjust furrow width and ridge height to match specific crop row spacings.
- Reversible point shares: Heavy-duty carbon steel points penetrate compacted soil layers and open clean, uniform furrows.
- Three-point linkage: Category-1 or Category-2 hitch system connects securely to the tractor hydraulic three-point lift for depth control.
- Tractor power requirement: Operates efficiently behind utility tractors ranging from 35 HP to 55 HP depending on row numbers (2-row to 4-row).
Agronomic Benefits of Ridge and Furrow Tillage
Shaping fields into alternating ridges and furrows delivers substantial agronomic advantages.
Core agronomic benefits:
- Enhanced root aeration: Loose, raised soil on ridges provides well-aerated conditions that encourage vigorous root expansion and tuber growth in potatoes.
- Waterlogging prevention: Heavy monsoon downpours drain harmlessly into furrows, protecting crop crowns from root rot and suffocation.
- Efficient furrow irrigation: Directs canal or borewell water along furrows, economizing irrigation volume compared to indiscriminate flood irrigation.
SMAM Subsidies and Application Steps
Farmers purchasing agricultural ridgers qualify for capital subsidies under central mechanization schemes.
Subsidy application checklist:
- Portal registration: Apply online via agrimachinery.nic.in under the secondary tillage and implement category.
- Required documentation: Applicant Aadhaar, land revenue records (Khasra/Khatauni), and quotation from an authorized dealer.
- Verification and credit: Field officers inspect the equipment and verify serial numbers before crediting subsidies via DBT.
Official source
Check the latest rules, benefits and forms here. KisanPe is an independent platform and is not a government website.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What is the primary function of a tractor ridger?
A tractor ridger opens furrows and shapes raised soil ridges for planting row crops like potatoes, sugarcane, maize, and vegetables.
What tractor horsepower is required for a 2-row ridger?
A 35 to 45 HP utility tractor is generally sufficient to pull a standard 2-row or 3-row adjustable ridger.
How does planting on ridges protect crops during heavy rains?
Ridges keep crop root zones elevated above standing water, while furrows channel excess rainwater safely off the field to prevent waterlogging.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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