New soil loosening innovation from BUSA

Extreme weather phenomena, such as drought and torrential rains, highlight the importance of soil loosening processes. While maintaining infiltration capacity, we must choose a primary tillage method that results in the least water loss. Medium-depth loosening tools can be integrated into almost any soil cultivation technology, making it essential to have at least one on every farm. However, the type of loosening tool chosen is crucial.

Loosening blades that mix the soil surface do not meet expectations on all soil types, increasing the demand for low disturbance loosening blades. Avoiding surface disturbance and leaving crop residues on the surface are the foundations of soil-friendly, water-saving tillage. Technologies that apply a mulch layer to protect the soil surface, however, impose new requirements on loosening tools.

The Busa LTH-5 medium-depth loosener meets the latest expectations with its innovative solutions, as evidenced by its second-place award in the 2020 Hungarian Agricultural Machine of the Year competition.

At the front of the robust “unbreakable” machine frame is a hydraulically adjustable cutting disc row that prevents residue buildup by cutting through crop residues. The cutting discs are followed by five straight shear bolt-protected loosening blades. The straight blade does not bring soil from deeper layers to the surface and does not turn out large clods. Together, the cutting discs and straight-edged loosening blade ensure minimal surface disturbance. The working depth of the machine is hydraulically adjustable between 30 and 55 cm. The soil is closed off by an angle iron spiral roller, which also serves as a depth limiter. The working depth of the cutting discs can be adjusted with a separate hydraulic circuit.

The loosening blades can be arranged in-line or in two rows (offset). The arrangement of the blades in two rows is advantageous in terms of traction force, while arranging them in one row achieves more uniform loosening. The latter is a widely used technology in North America, which we can now try without purchasing a separate machine. In addition to the LTH-5 loosener, the three-blade LTH-3 is also available.