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  • Weed Management
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Torsion Weeders

Mode of Action uproots weeds
Required Bed Preparation
  • loose, level soil
  • relatively dry and workable
  • not effective on heavy or hard soils
  • as clay increases, cultivation efficacy typically decreases
  •  
Row Spacing

10" minimum

Optimum Weed Stage cotyledon - 2 true leaves
Optimum Crops

crops must be extremely well-rooted with sufficient row spacing

Optimum Crop Stage 2+ true leaves, very well-rooted
Speed 2 - 7 mph
Settings
  • torsions must be relatively centered on crop
  • as tip distance increase, cultivation aggressiveness decreases
  • crop damage will typically increase with tractor speed
  • higher disturbance if torsions are set to overlap, but crops must be well-rooted to avoid injury
  • a slight downward angle for the torsions is optimal
  • 7 mm torsions for lighter soils, 10 mm torsions for heavier soils
Crop Damage crops will be uprooted if not sufficiently established
Combinations with Other Tools
  • especially effective combined with interrow tools such as hoes, tines, sweeps, side knives, etc
  • can be combined with finger weeders to control larger intrarow weeds
  • can stack effectively in the order of torsion-finger-row tine harrows (see Brown & Gallandt below)

Modified from van der Schans et al. (2006). Practical weed control in arable farming and outdoor vegetable cultivation without chemicals. Wageningen UR, Applied Plant Research: Lelystad, Netherlands.

 

 

Videos

Tilmor torsions via Michigan State University Extension

Hand torsion tool via The Market Gardener

Magic Cultivator as sold by Small Farm Works

 

In the Literature

Brown, B, and ER Gallandt. (2018). Evidence of synergy with 'stacked' intrarow cultivation tools. Weed Research 58(4):284-291

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