Disc Plough x Disc Harrow: The Perfect Duo for Two-Step Soil Preparation — Softening and Ready for Planting

Last updated: 20 Aug 2025

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Disc Plough x Disc Harrow: The Perfect Duo for Two-Step Soil Preparation Softening and Ready for Planting

Why Are Your Crops Underperforming? What Can You Do?

One of the biggest frustrations for farmers is not achieving the expected yield, even when following proper steps and taking good care of their crops.

Did you know that improper soil preparation might be a key reason? Hard, compacted soil can restrict root growth, leading to reduced yields. Thats why the disc plough and disc harrow are essential toolsthey help loosen and aerate the soil, making it ideal for planting.

Lets explore the roles of the disc plough and disc harrow, and when to use each, to prepare your soil for the best possible crop growth.

Disc Plough: Breaking Ground and Turning Hard Soil into Loose Soil

The disc plough is an essential tool for soil preparation. It helps turn over the topsoil, eliminate weeds, and improve soil structure by loosening compacted ground. This tool is ideal for fields that have never been plowed or have hard, compacted soil. It also enhances water drainage and prepares the land for the next step of tillage.

What Is a Disc Plough and How Does It Work?

A disc plough is a type of plowing equipment featuring large rotating concave discs, typically arranged in sets of 3 to 5 discs. It is used to turn over the topsoil to improve soil structure, allowing compacted soil to better drain water and air. The working principle of a disc plough includes:

The rotating discs cut and lift the soil, performing a rough tillage to break up the ground.
It can cut and bury weeds simultaneously, helping clear the field efficiently.
It is effective for improving compacted soil or land that has never been ploughed before.

Benefits of Using a Disc Plough

Using a disc plough helps improve soil structure to make it suitable for planting by turning over the topsoil, reducing soil compaction, and eliminating weeds. The main advantages of a disc plough are:

Opens up the soil surface, making previously unused or abandoned fields ready for cultivation.
Improves soil structure, enhancing drainage and reducing issues with hard soil and waterlogging.
Reduces the buildup of pests and soil-borne diseases by turning the soil and burying weeds.
Ideal for large fields due to its fast and efficient operation.

What Types of Soil Are Suitable for a Disc Plough?

Choosing the right disc plough based on soil conditions is important because soil compaction and structure vary by location. Disc ploughs are especially suitable for:

Soil that has never been ploughed or fields left fallow for a long time.
Clay and clay-loam soils that suffer from compaction problems.
Areas with large weeds or abundant plant debris that need to be incorporated into the soil.

Disc Harrow: Finely Tilling and Loosening Soil for Optimal Growth

After using the disc plough to break and open the soil surface, the disc harrow takes over to further break down the soil into finer particles. This process loosens and aerates the soil, making it ideal for planting. The disc harrow also helps distribute organic matter evenly, improves soil structure for better moisture retention, and reduces soil compactionallowing crops to grow healthier and stronger.

What Is a Disc Harrow and How Does It Work?

A disc harrow is an agricultural implement equipped with smaller concave discs arranged in a flat plane. Its primary function is to break down and pulverize the soil that has been initially turned by the disc plough into finer particles. The working principles include:

The rotating discs break up and mix the soil for a finer texture.
It helps eliminate leftover plant debris and roots from the initial plowing.
Improves soil structure by creating air spaces for better aeration and enhanced water retention.

Benefits of Using a Disc Harrow

After the soil is initially opened by a disc plough, the disc harrow further refines the soil by loosening it, increasing porosity, and distributing organic matter evenly, preparing the land for planting. Key advantages include:

Produces looser, finer soil ideal for plants that require well-aerated soil.
Enhances fertilizer efficiency by mixing nutrients thoroughly throughout the soil.
Improves moisture retention, reducing water evaporation.
Suitable for a variety of crops including field crops, orchards, and vegetables.

What Soil Types Are Best for a Disc Harrow?

While the disc harrow improves soil condition after primary plowing, the results may vary depending on soil type. Ideal conditions for using a disc harrow include:

Soil that has been initially ploughed but remains clumpy or coarse.
Fields that need finer soil preparation before planting.
Areas requiring improved soil water absorption capacity.

Disc Plough vs. Disc Harrow: A Powerful Duo for Soil Preparation

Although both the disc plough and disc harrow use rotating discs for soil preparation, they serve different but complementary roles to optimize the soil conditioning process:

The disc plough opens and turns over the soil, buries weeds, and prepares the ground for planting. It is suitable for hard soils, new fields, or areas with lots of tree stumps and roots.
The disc harrow further breaks down the soil into finer particles, loosens it, aerates, and improves soil structure to promote healthy plant growth.

Additionally, the type and number of discs influence the tools performance and compatibility with different tractor sizes.

1. Disc Plough

The disc plough is ideal for the initial stage of soil turning. The number of discs affects the working area size and the tractor power required.

3-disc plough: Suitable for small areas; designed for tractors with 3440 horsepower.
4-disc plough: Suitable for medium-sized areas; designed for tractors with 3947 horsepower.
5-disc plough: Suitable for large areas requiring durability and strength; designed for tractors with 105110 horsepower.

2. Disc Harrow

The disc harrow is a crucial implement used after the disc plough to loosen and refine the soil, making it suitable for shallow-root crops (roots less than 30 cm deep) or field crops that require well-aerated soil. Disc harrows come in various sizes, and each size is compatible with different tractor horsepower ranges as follows:

5-disc harrow Suitable for tractors with 2580 horsepower
6-disc harrow Suitable for tractors with 3090 horsepower
7-disc harrow Suitable for tractors with 55120 horsepower
8-disc harrow Suitable for tractors with 90120 horsepower

Double-Gang Disc Harrows (2 Rows):

16-disc (2-row) harrow Suitable for tractors with 6080 horsepower
18-disc (2-row) harrow Suitable for tractors with 7090 horsepower
20-disc (2-row) harrow Suitable for tractors with 80100 horsepower
22-disc (2-row) harrow Suitable for tractors with 95110 horsepower

Maximizing Soil Preparation Efficiency

Proper soil preparation is key to healthy plant growth and high-quality yields. Using a disc plough to break and turn the soil, followed by a disc harrow to improve soil texture and structure, ensures optimal conditions for planting. Together, these tools enhance farming efficiency and support better crop performance.

How to Prepare Soil for Planting Using a Disc Plough and Disc Harrow

Soil preparation is a critical step that directly affects plant growth. When the soil has the proper structurewell-aerated, loose, and rich in nutrientsit increases the likelihood of achieving high-quality yields. Using a disc plough in combination with a disc harrow helps condition the soil effectively for planting. The soil preparation process can be carried out as follows:

Step 1: Break the Ground with a Disc Plough

The disc plough helps break up compacted soil, aerate the upper soil layer, and improve drainage. It is ideal for new plots that have never been cultivated or for fields with hard, dense soil.

Step 2: Let the Soil Rest After Ploughing

After ploughing, allow the soil to rest for about 23 days. This helps reduce excess moisture, promotes air circulation, and allows the soil to settle.
If more than 3 days pass without planting, use the disc harrow 13 days before planting to avoid nutrient loss due to evaporation.

Step 3: Loosen the Soil with a Disc Harrow

The disc harrow breaks down large soil clods, increases aeration, and improves soil structure, creating the ideal conditions for root development and plant growth.

Crops Best Suited for Soil Prepared with Disc Plough and Harrow

Using a disc plough followed by a disc harrow creates ideal soil conditions for crops that prefer loose and well-drained soil, such as:

Corn Prefers soil with good water retention but not overly compact.
Sugarcane Requires well-aerated soil for root expansion.
Cassava Grows best in loose soil with good drainage.
Rice Needs soil that can retain adequate moisture.

Proper soil preparation using both a disc plough and disc harrow not only promotes healthy plant growth and increased yield but also helps prevent soil degradation in the long term.

How to Choose the Right Disc Plough and Disc Harrow for Maximum Value and Longevity

Choosing the right disc plough and disc harrow is essential for efficient and cost-effective farming. These implements are key tools used continuously throughout the agricultural cycle, and investing in durable, high-quality equipment can help reduce long-term costs while improving soil preparation. Here are the main factors to consider when selecting your disc plough and harrow:

1. Material Quality

The quality of materials is the first and most crucial factor. Most discs are made from boron steel, a material known for its strength and resistance to wear. The better the steel, the longer the implement will lastespecially when working in rough conditions such as rocky soil, fields with roots, or hardened ground post-harvest.

While high-quality steel may come at a higher price, it reduces the need for frequent repairs or replacement. With proper maintenance, a high-quality disc plough or harrow can last 2030 years, making the daily cost extremely lowoften less than 1 baht per day!

2. Suitability for Application

Matching the implement to the specific task ensures greater efficiency:

A disc plough is ideal for breaking new ground, flipping heavy topsoil, and cutting through weeds and plant residue. It's especially useful for crops like corn, sugarcane, and cassava.
A disc harrow is best used after ploughing to refine and loosen the soil structure, making it suitable for planting. It works well for shallow-root crops (roots <30 cm) and helps prepare a fine seedbed.

3. Ploughing Efficiency and Tail Wheel Adjustments

Well-designed implements should deliver consistent ploughing depth and straight rows without veering off course. The tail wheel must be easy to adjust to ensure uniform soil turning and reduce set-up timebecause less time in the field means lower operating costs.

4. Compatibility with Tractors

The implement must pair well with your tractors horsepower and capacity. A poorly balanced or overly heavy plough can strain the engine, increase fuel consumption, and cause premature wear.

A properly matched implement allows the tractor to operate at optimal power levels, saving fuel and reducing engine stress.

Conclusion

Choosing the right disc plough and harrow ensures efficient soil preparation, lowers maintenance costs, and maximizes your crop yield. By investing in durable equipment tailored to your land conditions and tractor size, you gain long-term value and productivity for your farm.

High-Quality Disc Plough & Disc Harrow by CMT Perfectly Prepared Soil for Stronger Yields

Say goodbye to compacted topsoil and slow-growing crops. With CMTs Disc Plough and Disc Harrow, you can reduce soil preparation time and create the ideal environment for planting. Our high-quality agricultural implements help break tough ground and refine soil structure, making it soft, aerated, and nutrient-ready for better crop development.

Why Choose CMT?

Engineered with high-grade steel for exceptional durability and performance
Designed to suit various soil conditions and field types
Suitable for use with different tractor horsepower ranges
Optimized to support a wide range of crops, from rice and corn to sugarcane and cassava

Whether you're preparing new farmland or improving an existing field, choosing the right disc plough and harrow is crucial. Consider the type of crops you plan to grow, the horsepower of your tractor, and the working conditions of your land to ensure your investment delivers the best results.

Tel: +66 38 273 250 to 7
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Let CMT be your trusted partner in preparing soil for high-quality, high-yield farming.