A moldboard plow (also spelled "mouldboard plough") is a type of plow used in agriculture to prepare soil for planting by turning over the upper layer of soil and burying weeds or crop residue. It consists of several components that work together to achieve these tasks:
Share: The share is the pointed blade at the front of the plow that cuts into the soil. It creates a furrow as it moves through the ground.
Moldboard: The moldboard is a curved metal plate that follows the share. It lifts and turns the soil that the share has cut, flipping it over and exposing the nutrient-rich lower layers to the surface. The shape of the moldboard is crucial for the proper inversion of the soil.
Landside: The landside is the vertical surface on the side of the plow that supports the moldboard. It helps guide the plow through the soil and maintains the proper angle of attack for the moldboard.
Tailpiece: The tailpiece is located at the rear of the moldboard and helps control the depth and angle of the furrow created by the plow.
Here's how a moldboard plow works:
Preparation: The plow is attached to a tractor or draft animals. It is set to the desired depth depending on the type of soil and the intended purpose of plowing.
Cutting: The share of the plow is driven into the soil by the tractor or animals, creating a furrow. The soil is lifted and broken up by the cutting action of the share.
Turning: As the plow moves forward, the moldboard follows the share's path. The curved shape of the moldboard causes the lifted soil to be turned over completely, exposing the fresh, nutrient-rich soil underneath.
Burying: The inverted soil is deposited on top of the previously plowed strip, burying any weeds, plant residues, or other organic matter. This burying helps to incorporate organic material into the soil, aiding in decomposition and improving soil structure.
Repeat: The process is repeated as the plow continues its forward motion, creating a series of parallel furrows and turning over the soil in a systematic manner.
Moldboard plowing has been a traditional method of soil preparation, but in modern agriculture, other techniques such as reduced tillage and no-till farming have gained popularity due to their potential benefits in terms of soil conservation and reduced soil disturbance. These newer methods aim to minimize the negative impact of intensive plowing on soil structure and ecosystem health.
