Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Different tillage implements require varying amounts of draft (pulling force) based on their design, soil contact area, and how they manipulate the soil.
Implements that perform intensive primary tillage and completely invert the soil slice require more energy than those that only cut or stir the soil.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us compare the mechanical action and draft requirements of the listed implements:
- Cultivator: A secondary tillage implement designed to stir the soil and control weeds. It does not invert the soil and has a relatively low draft.
- Disc Harrow: A secondary tillage implement used for pulverizing soil clods and preparing the seedbed. Its draft requirement is moderate.
- Disc Plough: A primary tillage implement that uses spherical concave discs to cut and turn the soil. Because of the rolling action of the discs, friction between the tool and the soil is reduced, resulting in a lower draft compared to a moldboard plough.
- Mould Board (MB) Plough: A primary tillage implement designed to cut, lift, fracture, and completely invert the soil slice.
The mechanical action of the moldboard involves sliding friction along the share, landside, and moldboard surface, as well as the energy required to shear and roll a large volume of soil.
Consequently, under identical soil conditions and while turning the same volume of soil, the moldboard plough requires the highest draft.
Step 2: Final Answer:
The draft is maximum for the mould board plough.