Producers of agricultural technology are constantly expanding their range, trying to please the maximum number of consumers. Not so long ago, in small farms, harvesting was done exclusively by hand, but today the situation has changed. Large farms have been using large agricultural equipment for quite a long time, which is simply not affordable for smaller ones. It was for them that the devices were developed, for which a simple motor-block is enough. These tools include the potato digger, which we will discuss in more detail in this article.
Purpose and principle of operation of potato diggers
Potato for motoblock refers to attachments, which is used for harvesting. It is fixed using a hitch or directly on the machine. The device digs up potatoes from the soil, significantly speeding up the process of picking tubers. The tines of the potato digger penetrate into the soil, removing potato tubers from it, which must then be harvested by hand. Compared to fully manual collection, this method will save you a lot of time, which means that the equipment will pay for itself quite quickly.
Did you know? The average productivity of potato shovels is 0.1-0.2 ha / h, which is several times faster than manual harvesting.
The main types of potato digging and features of their device
How does the potato digger, they know mostly those who have already worked with her. The principle of operation is simple and practically the same for all types. The earth is captured with a special knife and falls into a special shaking mechanism. As a result, most of the land and small stones are sifted out, leaving only the tubers. But there are still some peculiarities in different types of potato chopsticks, and then we will look at different kinds of potato chopsticks in more detail.
Universal potato digger (lancet)
This potato digger for motoblock - the simplest that entails the corresponding pros and cons. The main disadvantage of lancet potatoes is a relatively low efficiency, they are able to raise to the surface about 85% of the crop. But the advantages of this unit are also available and for some may well outweigh any disadvantages. The main advantage is low price (in comparison with other species), which is the main criterion for the smallest farms. Also, to connect such a potato digger do not need a power take-off shaft, therefore, it can be connected to older models of tillers, without a PTO.
The simplest version of the assembly resembles a spade without a handle, with welded rods. In such devices there are no complicated details, and the yield losses for such a method of collecting are minimal.
Vibrating diggers (screen type)
Compared to universal, rumble type potato harvester is much more efficient. The improved design allows to extract up to 98% of tubers from the soil and improves productivity. This digger consists of a vibrating barrel, a plowshare and a drive. The mechanism of the vibrating digger is as follows: the upper layers of the soil along with the potatoes are picked up and moved to the vibrating table. Further, under the action of vibration, the earth exfoliates and leaves through the cracks, and the potato itself falls out on the other side of the device.
Conveyor potato diggers
This type of potato digger is quite similar to the previous type, but there are still differences. The transporter potato digger to the motoblock is equipped with a special tape instead of a vibration table. Driving through the conveyor belt, potatoes are quite effectively cleared of soil. The main disadvantage of this type, like the previous one, is the price, which is significantly higher than that of simple potato diggers.
Description and photo of the most popular potato diggers
Among the wide range of potato diggers it is quite easy to get confused, especially for a beginner farmer. But how to choose a suitable potato digger? Each of the available samples will have a mass of certain advantages. In this case, the main criterion of choice for many gardeners is the weight and cost of the unit. For farmers, the same priority will be such parameters as:
- performance;
- reliability;
- reliability
"KKM 1"
Kopalka “KKM 1” - it is a small-sized potato digger for mechanized digging of potato tubers from the ground to the surface for subsequent manual harvesting. In addition to potatoes, using this mechanism, you can collect garlic, onions and beets. The KKM 1 potato digging module consists of a sifter grid and an active knife. Using the support wheels, you can adjust the depth of digging, and thanks to the engine revolutions of the motoblock, you can adjust the softness of the soil separation.
Did you know? Excessive deepening of potatoes during planting always provokes a good overgrowth of the tops. This happens, of course, to the detriment of the harvest, which will consist of one trifle.
The potato digger is well suited to the Favorit, NEVA, MTZ and Cascade walker. The potato digger “KKM 1” is intended for use on medium and light soils, at a humidity not higher than 27%, the hardness of the earth should be up to 20 kg / cm2, and the debris in the stones should be up to 9 t / ha. If you choose this model for harvesting potatoes, you need to calculate the width between the rows, it should reach 70 cm. In order to increase the coupling weight, a load of at least 50 kg can be hung on the motoblock bar. Also, this potato digger can be used for the Salut motoblock. If the site is highly developed tops, it is recommended to remove it 1-2 days before digging potatoes.
"KM2"
This is a hinged single row variety of potato diggers, which allows you to dig up the crop without damaging the tubers, while separating the potato from the ground and laying it on the surface.
Important! For industrial use potato digger “KM2” is not intended, it is used in small areas.
The potato digger “KM2” is perfectly connected to the Belarus motor-block and provides good performance. The design is well thought out, which allows you to harvest the entire crop without missing anything. Thanks to a motor-cultivator the tool effectively copes with any soil. Since the wheels with the bracket are attached to the base of the digger, you can adjust the depth of soil treatment.
"Poltava"
This potato digger for motoblock - vibrating, with an active knife, the design of which fits all motor-blocks. You can install the pulley both on the right and on the left side with the movement of all elements on the desired side. The potato digger's frame is made of a 40 × 40 mm pipe, a 4 mm thick knife, table bars in the form of a circle with a diameter of 10 mm, a metal hitch of 7–8 mm, and a table and a knife are attached to the vibromechanism from a 6 mm band.
The potato Poltavchanka is very effective and can dig up potatoes in a matter of hours. Due to the vibration of a powerful and sharp knife, it easily picks up the ground with tubers, moving the potatoes to the vibrating table. On the table, the earth passes through the bars, leaving only the potatoes. After that, she moves to the edge of the table and falls to the ground. The potato digger performs all activities from digging up to laying potatoes on the surface of the earth. Part of the potato tubers that remain in the ground does not exceed 15%.
"KVM3"
Vibration potato digger “КВМ3” is connected to almost any motoblock with a belt drive of Ukrainian, Russian, Chinese production. Working on solid ground rocks, you can connect the knife to the frame of the vytrihivatel through the adapter, it will provide additional vibration of the knife. Thanks to the universal mechanism of the vibrating potato digger “КВМ3”, it can work with motor-blocks, in which the pulley is located both on the right and on the left side.
If the motoblock pulley is on the right, then the shaft “КВМ3” must be rearranged on the right side and the additional pulley must be installed on the gearbox shaft. This digger for the motoblock is equipped with a static knife with a vytryakhivatel table, which moves along the lifting-pushing line. Vibration potato digger “KVM3” weighs 39 kg, it is completed with high-quality bearings of the Indian company DPI, the Kharkov plant and Russian silent blocks. The wheels are made of sheet metal, the thickness of which is 3 mm, the frame of the shaped tube is 40 × 40, the thickness of the knife is 5 mm, and the vytrahivyvatel table has a diameter of 10 mm.
"2KN"
The single-row small-scale potato-digger “2KN” is used for work on light and medium soil in small-scale agriculture. Before digging up the potato beds, it is necessary to pre-clean weeds and tops. This model is a new development of the company “SMM”. The improved hitch mechanism allows the potato digger to be not only versatile, but also more convenient to operate and assemble. The 2KN potato digger is suitable for the Neva, Celina or Cascade motoblock. A potato digger weighs 30 kg, and in 2 minutes its productivity is at least 100 meters.
Advantages and disadvantages of using potato diggers at harvest
Of the advantages of potato diggers, it is worth noting that she greatly facilitates the work at harvest. It can be used not only for potatoes, but also for carrots, beets and other root crops. This equipment saves time and effort. However, before you buy a potato digger, you need to check whether you can install it on your cultivator or motoblock.
Important! You should also consider the power of the motoblock and the type of soil on which you will work.
Since potato digging for the motoblock is an expensive pleasure, acquiring it should take into account all the above criteria in order not to be mistaken with the choice.
