Improving degraded mountain slopes with discing

Lack of small-sized maneuverable serial discator samples for shallow contour areas of mountain meadows and pastures contributed to the development of mini-discator sample to operate on mountain slopes on soils of different texture. The authors analized the constructive parameters of working elements – discs (the distance between adjacent discs, the curvature radius of discs, and the disc diameter) and their location on the frame of a mini-discator. Based on the Feng Shou-180 mini-tractor, they developed a laboratory prototype of a small-sized modular unit of a mini-discator for soil cultivation (discing). The machine is applicable to soils of different mechanical composition located in the mountain zone of the North Caucasus on the hillside areas of forage lands with a slope of up to 12°. The designed laboratory prototype of a mini-discator is a hinged construction with single-row arrangement of nine spherical disks mounted on individual racks at an angle to the movement axis. There is a device to prevent clogging of the cutting discs and a device to adjust the pressure on the ground. The machine can also be fitted with press rollers. The design can be switched from the right-left-hand to left-right-hand slope operation when turning. The technical tests of the laboratory prototype were carried out at the SKNIIGPSKH mountain facilities in the village of Dargavs, RNO-Alania, at the altitude of 1540 m above sea level and a slope inclination of up to 15°. The performance tests of the laboratory sample modular unit of the mounted mini-discator for meadow and pasture soil treatment in the mountain zone and technical examination of the scientific documentation were carried out in accordance with GOST 33687-2016 and GOST 33687-2015. The developed and manufactured laboratory sample gives prerequisites for designing a serial sample of the machine. The application of the modular unit of the minidiscator will ensure the reduction of degradation processes of sloping areas, increase the yield of forage lands, enhance the resistance to water and wind erosion, and increase the environmental sustainability and efficiency of grassland farming.

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