Harrow

A hydraulic disc harrow uses the tractor's hydraulic system to adjust disc angle and working depth while in motion. This offers superior field control, uniform tillage depth, and faster headland adjustment compared to mechanical harrows.

Fieldking, Landforce, and Shaktimaan are the most popular harrow brands for Indian conditions. Lemken and Khedut cater to the premium and specialized segment. John Deere and Mahindra-branded harrows are trusted for their warranty support

For a 50 HP tractor, a 16–20 disc harrow (tandem configuration) is appropriate. Exceeding this puts excessive load on the PTO and hydraulics. A well-matched harrow maximizes coverage while maintaining safe tractor operation.

A harrow alone cannot replace deep primary ploughing. It is a secondary tillage tool. However, for light soils and shallow-rooted crops, a heavy-duty disc harrow can prepare an adequate seedbed without prior ploughing, saving one field operation.

A disc harrow cuts and partially inverts soil using concave discs — aggressive on residue but less thorough on soil pulverization. A rotavator uses PTO-powered rotating blades for thorough soil mixing and fine seedbed creation. Harrows are faster; rotavators are more thorough.

Yes. Disc harrows are eligible for subsidy under the SMAM scheme and state agriculture department programs. Subsidies of 40–50% are available for eligible farmers. Contact your nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra or district agriculture officer to apply.

A standard disc harrow works at 8–15 cm depth. Heavy-duty offset disc harrows can reach 18–20 cm. Working depth is adjustable via the weight tray or hydraulic system.

For stubble incorporation, a heavy-duty tandem disc harrow with large-diameter (20–24 inch) concave discs is most effective. Running two cross-direction passes helps chop and mix stubble thoroughly into the topsoil.

A spike-tooth harrow has rows of rigid spike teeth that level, break clods, and firm the seedbed after disc harrowing. It is used as the final soil preparation step before seeding, creating a uniform surface for better seed-to-soil contact.

Yes. A disc harrow is effective for killing emerged weeds and mixing their roots into the soil before planting. It is widely used for fallow weed management in kharif-rabi rotations, helping reduce weed seed banks over multiple seasons.

Key maintenance: lubricate all disc bearings regularly, check disc blade sharpness and replace worn/cracked discs, inspect scraper blades, tighten all bolts after 10–15 hours of work, and store raised off the ground to prevent rust.

Working width ranges from 1.5 metres (16-disc light harrow) to over 4 metres for heavy-duty models. Wider harrows complete field operations faster but require higher HP tractors and may be difficult to transport on narrow village roads.

For orchard floor management, an offset disc harrow is ideal as it works alongside tree rows without the tractor running over roots. Compact models from Fieldking and Captain suit mango, guava, and citrus orchards in Maharashtra, UP, and Gujarat.

Typically 2–3 passes at different angles (cross-directions) are needed for an ideal seedbed after primary ploughing. In sandy or light soils, 1–2 passes may be sufficient. Heavy clay or black cotton soil may need 3–4 passes.

Lemken disc harrows feature precision-crafted notched or plain discs with self-sharpening design and sealed bearings that reduce maintenance. They are ideal for large commercial farms where downtime is costly.

Visit Tractor Gyan at tractorgyan.com/tractor-implements-in-india/harrow for a complete listing of 70+ disc and spike harrow models with HP requirements, disc count, brand comparisons, and updated 2026 pricing.