Traditionally, row crops were cultivated to control weeds.  For example, corn usually was cultivated two or three times before the plants became too tall for the equipment to pass without damaging the plants.  Cultivators have mechanical teeth to till the soil between the rows up to about 5" deep to disrupt weed growth and aerate the soil to enhance penetration of water. Cultivators were used less frequently beginning about 1980 as herbicides were used increasingly to control weeds.   However, cultivators were used more after 2000 as organic foods became popular, because herbicides were not used for organic farming.  This corn cultivator typifies equipment used commercially in the US in 2005.  Two other views of the same cultivator are in NAL #4809 and #4810.

Row crop cultivator

Credit: Case IH

Digital Credit: Case IH

Publisher: None

Rights: No rights reserved - image is in the public domain

Description: Traditionally, row crops were cultivated to control weeds. For example, corn usually was cultivated two or three times before the plants became too tall for the equipment to pass without damaging the plants. Cultivators have mechanical teeth to till the soil between the rows up to about 5" deep to disrupt weed growth and aerate the soil to enhance penetration of water. Cultivators were used less frequently beginning about 1980 as herbicides were used increasingly to control weeds. However, cultivators were used more after 2000 as organic foods became popular, because herbicides were not used for organic farming. This corn cultivator typifies equipment used commercially in the US in 2005. Two other views of the same cultivator are in NAL #4809 and #4810.

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