Role of Power Tiller in Modern Agriculture: Types & Advantages

Table of Contents

• Role of Power Tiller in Agriculture
• Types of Power Tillers
  • Walking Type Power Tillers
  • Riding Type Power Tillers
  • Mini Power Tillers
• Power Tiller Uses
  • Soil Tillage
  • Ploughing
  • Weed Control
  • Inter-Cultivation
  • Land Levelling
  • Seedbed Preparation
  • Soil Aeration
• Benefits of Power Tillers
• Top Power Tiller Brands
  • VST Shakti Power Tillers
  • Shrachi Power Tillers
  • Kirloskar Power Tillers
• Conclusion

Role of Power Tiller in Agriculture

Power tillers reduce labor-intensive manual labor and increase productivity. They are recommended for rugged and sloping terrains where maneuvering a tractor can be difficult, or even dangerous. Power tillers are very useful in hilly regions where only terrace farming is possible.

Rice and paddy farmers with small farms use power tillers to easily till flooded fields. Tractors are heavy and can compact the soil due to their weight and till deeper than necessary. But power tillers soften, loosen, and till the soil only to the required depth. This makes it easier to plant paddy in water-submerged fields without risking drowning the plants.

Types of Power Tillers

There are different types of power tillers like walking type, riding types, etc. We have discussed them in detail below:

Walking Type Power Tillers

Walking type power tillers are also known as two-wheeler tractors. The operator walks behind these light and compact power tillers to move them in the right direction. With an easy to maneuver design, these power tillers are ideal for small size farms.

Riding Type Power Tillers

These are larger and more powerful micro-farming machines that come with an operator seat. These power tillers are designed for soil preparation with reduced operator fatigue as compared to walking type power tiller.

Mini Power Tillers

Mini power tillers are smaller and more lightweight than walking-type tillers. These lightweight and highly maneuverable tillers are made for small-scale farming, vegetable gardens, and inter-crop cultivation.

Power Tiller Uses

Power tillers are primarily used for soil preparation, but they are also used in the following farming tasks:

Soil Tillage

For the most part, a power tiller is used for tilling the soil before sowing seeds because it loosens hard soil and makes it easier for crops to grow.

Ploughing

Power tillers can easily break hard soil layers in the farm fields, and it helps make a well-structured seedbed for crops.

Weed Control

Power tillers are very effective in removing weed from the soil. The rotating blades of the power tiller uproot the unwanted plants and weeds to help in the growth of planted crops.

Inter-Cultivation

Inter-cultivation between crop rows is done by power tillers by attaching specialized inter-row attachments. These machines move easily between plant rows to loosen soil and improve water filtration.

Land Levelling

Some power tillers are also helpful in land leveling in addition to tilling. Land leveling ensures that the farms get uniformly irrigated.

Seedbed Preparation

Seedbed preparation with a power tiller is done by breaking, leveling, and packing the soil into an ideal environment for seed germination.

Soil Aeration

Power tillers help aerate the soil by breaking up compacted dirt and creating pore space. This turning over of soil allows air, water, and other nutrients to reach deep in the soil and help in root development.

Benefits of Power Tillers

Power tillers are useful for Indian farmers for the following reasons:

• Power tillers are comparatively less expensive than tractors, and they also get subsidies to make them more affordable.
• Power tillers require less room for storage and also consume less fuel than tractors.
• Power tillers have low maintenance costs, and they remain in reasonably good condition for longer periods of time.
• Power tillers are easy to maneuver and work faster on hilly terrain farms, flat lands, water submerged fields, etc.

Top Power Tiller Brands

VST Shakti, Shrachi, and Kirloskar are the popular brands offering power tillers in India. Below, we have discussed them all:

VST Shakti Power Tillers

VST Shakti power tillers are strong and come with advanced features for easily operating in wet and dry farm fields. These power tillers are suitable for vegetable gardens, horticulture, etc. VST Shakti power tillers have a power output of 9 to 16 HP and offer a good mileage. These power tillers come with a starting price of ₹ 2.05 lakhs*, and its popular models are VST Shakti 130 DI and VST Shakti 135 DI. Also, these power tillers can easily work with implements like a ridger, cultivator, sprayer, cage wheel, water pump, and plough.

Shrachi Power Tillers

Shrachi Power Tillers are manufactured by BTL EPC Ltd. These power tillers are highly fuel efficient, and are built for multi-crop cultivation, inter-cultivation, and weeding in wet and dry farmlands. Shrachi Virat is a popular 13 HP power tiller with a weight of 405 kg that offers a tillage capacity of 1 acre / 2 hours. Its other features include, tilling depth of 150 mm, heavy-duty tilling blades, 18+2 tynes, etc.

Kirloskar Power Tillers

Kirloskar Power Tillers are heavy-duty and multi-utility agricultural machines that work well in both wet and dry land. They offer a power output of 12 to 15 HP and are used for puddling, plowing, and weeding. The popular power tiller models from Kirloskar are: Kirloskar Mega T 12 LW, Kirloskar Mega T 12 RTH, Kirloskar Mega T 15 Sugarcane Special. Kirloskar power tillers come with a starting price for ₹ 2 lakhs*, and features like alternator & safety start switch, key-start ignition, mobile charger, etc.

If you want to learn about top power tiller models in India, read Top 5 Power Tillers in India.

Conclusion

Power tillers are commonly used for soil tillage to weed control in modern farming. They are commonly used in orchards, vineyards, small farms on hills, etc. There are different types of power tillers available including walking, riding, or mini power tillers. Reduced labor costs, improved soil health, increased productivity, etc., are some of the common benefits of power tillers. If you want to learn more, you can explore the power tillers page on Tractorkarvan.