Plough Body Material and Its Effect on Draught Resistance

The pull required to drag a plough through the soil is decided as much by the body's surface as by its shape. A rough, rusty body drags against the furrow slice; a smooth, hard body lets the soil flow over it cleanly. Draught resistance is not a fixed number: it changes with body material, surface condition and soil type, and it directly shows up in fuel use and tractor load.

How body material changes soil flow

A plough body is a curved surface over which the furrow slice turns. Cast iron bodies are tough and cheap but hold a slightly rougher surface. Hardened, ground bodies slide smoother and resist adhesion. In sticky clay, the difference between a rough and a smooth body is the difference between soil sticking and sliding, which changes both draught and finish.

Rough surfaces increase drag

Once a body surface rusts, pits or builds up caked soil, the drag rises. Soil catches on the rough spots, the slice turns less freely, and the tractor pulls harder. Cleaning the mouldboard after stony work and touching up rust spots keeps the surface smooth. A body that looks dull and pitted is costing fuel, even if its shape is still correct.

Hardness and wear work together

A harder body surface stays smooth for longer, because it wears more slowly and resists scratches from stones. The trade-off is that very hard bodies are less forgiving on impact and can chip. For abrasive soils, a harder body pays back over a season; for stony ground, a slightly tougher body may be the safer choice. Match the material to the field.

Shape and setup still matter

Material alone does not fix a badly set plough. Body angle, depth and clearance from the furrow wall all change draught. A well-set plough with worn shares still pulls harder than a plough with sharp shares and a level frame. Check setup first, then consider body material when planning replacements.

Measure the real saving

Fuel use over a season is the real measure. A plough that pulls easy, with a smooth body and sharp shares, covers more hectares per tank than one that drags. When ordering replacement bodies, ask about surface finish and hardness rather than only the price. A smoother body pays back through lower fuel use and a cleaner furrow turn.

References

BROWN R T, DAVIES M K. Effect of plough body material on draught and soil flow[J]. Biosystems Engineering, 2020, 198: 110-119.

Brown, R. T., and M. K. Davies. "Effect of Plough Body Material on Draught and Soil Flow." Biosystems Engineering, vol. 198, 2020, pp. 110-119.

Brown, R. T., & Davies, M. K. (2020). Effect of plough body material on draught and soil flow. Biosystems Engineering, 198, 110-119.