Today residues management has three main functions:
- Straw incorporation
Residues mixing on the top soil at a depth of 2″ – 5″ promotes straw decomposition and nutrient release. While conventional discs just size residues, UFO chops, pulverizes and incorporates them at shallow depth. - Soil structure restoring and field conditioning
UFO preserves soil structure without aggressive soil movement and no compaction in relation to conventional discs. It also promotes an increase of organic matter content on superficial soil layers, creating an ideal environment for soil bacteria. This tillage operation covers 60% of residues while 40% are left on the top, preventing from erosion and improving water retention. - Weed control
To achieve maximum yield potential, it is necessary to get rid of weed competition. The UFO does a great job of reducing weed competition.
a complete range of speed discs
MASCHIO designed a full range of rigid and folding UFO. The large diameter disc with its inclination and low concavity allow to get the depth and to throw much more dirt than a conventional vertical tillage tool. Soil is blackened up and tends to warm up faster, so it is possible to advance sowing operations. UFO can replace a conventional disc, field cultivator and rolling straw chopper all at once.
Cross System
The perfect overlapping of front and rear gangs guarantees an extremely consistent tillage all across the working width. The high clearance 28″ and the narrow 40″ gang spacing improves leveling, firming and consolidation, reducing power and fuel consumption at the same time.
Disc diameter and concavity
UFO notched discs have a wide 24″ diameter and are 1/3″ thick. They are made in high tensile boron steel and have a soil contact which is four times wider than the smaller diameter discs. The discs concavity ensures better soil straw mixing even on a very high density residues, then conventional vertical discs.
Perfect cutting angle
The 22° cutting angle, the disc shape and spacing ensure an optimal cutting quality even in the toughest working conditions.
Adjustable side retaining discs
Easily adjustable side discs (in depth and inclination) allow a perfect soil retention even with heavy crop residues, preparing an optimal seed bed and leaving a nice flat finish (no side ridges or furrows).
Powerless soil refining
The double cage roller (ext. Ø 16”) guarantees a perfect soil refinement and residues mixing. The pendulum hinge system allows the roller to follow soil contours ensuring uniform weight distribution and accurate depth control also on uneven grounds (only available on UFO 600).