Finger weeder
vs. rotative weeder
The options for a professional row-crop cultivator are very extensive.
The options for a professional row-crop cultivator are very extensive. Row distance, tractor track, sowing technology, sweeps, accessories, trailed working tools and much more must be taken into account and coordinated. The trailed working tools in particular should be individually adapted to the respective plant and soil conditions.
ROW-GUARD for precise results and maximum efficiency
For the maximum hoeing success, the unworked area along the row of plants should be set as narrow as possible. This efficiency can only be guaranteed by using the ROW-GUARD camera steering system.
To keep the unworked area as small as possible, there is a variety of different trailed working tools that allow you to work within the row. These include, among others, finger weeders and the rotative weeders.
Finger weeders for row-crop cultivators:
The finger weeder stars enable weeds to be pulled out and buried between plants. A spring-loaded or self-guided holder ensures an optimum and 100% penetration of the finger weeder stars, regardless of the parallelogram. This is necessary so that the finger weeder can work optimally and independently even on crusted or uneven surfaces. It is further important that the finger weeders are arranged parallel to each other for clean working. The angle between them does not need to be adjusted, as the fingers move parallel to the soil in the row of plants anyway, if they are set correctly (distance from each other & contact pressure).
Trailed rotative weeder for row-crop cultivators:
Similar to the finger weeder, the trailed rotative weeder works the unworked band in the row. By rotating the star, weeds are “combed out” of the row. The trailed rotative weeder is used primarily for mulch seeding and fields with a lot of organic material, as it works with less clogging than the finger weeder. Thanks to its rotating movement, it “cleans” itself and therefore copes better with harvest or catch crop residues. The boom or bracket on which the trailed rotative weeder is mounted on, is identical to the one of the finger weeder. This means that these two equipment options can be exchanged or combined quickly and easily.
finger weeder
- Counter-rotating finger stars spill soil into the row and spill small weeds
- Easy adjustment and very good result
- Universally applicable: in early and in late stages of the crop
- Ideally suited as initial equipment
- The unworked band must not be larger than 6-8 cm / 2,36 – 3,15’’, otherwise a sufficient effect cannot be guaranteed
- Challenge on slopes and curves: finger weeders can damage the crop if they drift away
- May not be aggressive enough for slightly deeper-rooted weeds
- All-rounder – suitable for almost all crops
- All row distances from 35cm
- “Beginner” & „Specialists“
rotative weeder
- Rotative weeder “sweeps” soil out of the r
- Advantages on heavy, clayey soilà when aggressiveness is required
- Advantages on slopes and in curves: Rotative weeder does not damage the crop when drifting
- High success in soybean, as soybean is very robust
- Shorter application time: plants must be well rooted and not too big
- Usually not ideal for the first and last weeding pass
- Often too aggressive on light sites and sensitive crops
- For “specialists”: adjustment requires a sure instinct
- For particularly robust crops (soybean or grain)
- All row distances from 35cm
- “Specialists”
Practical example: Hoed area with a row distance of 50 cm:
Without ROW-GUARD | With ROW-GUARD | With ROW-GURAD + Trailed working tools
- Hoed area: 37 cm | 42 cm | 47 cm
- Unhoed area: 13 cm | 8 cm | 2-3 cm
- Hoed area: <74 % | >84 % | >95 %
This practical example shows that more than 95% of the area can be hoed or cultivated with the ROW-GUARD camera steering system and trailed working tools. This enables good weed suppression, promotes the emergence of the cultivated crop and ensures an increase in quality and yield.
Further information can be found in the handbook of organic farming.
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