A tractor-pulled tool consisting of gangs of heavy, curved steel discs mounted on a common shaft. As it is dragged across a field, the rotating discs slice into the soil, chopping up weeds, incorporating crop residue, and breaking down large clods left by a plow. It creates a finer, flatter seedbed for planting.
Heard on the job
Hook the big tractor up to the disc harrow, that heavy clay in the bottom field is full of massive clods.
Also heard as
- Disk harrow
- Discs
Related terms
Disc
The act of breaking up soil clods and crop residue using a tractor-drawn implement with steel blades.
Plough
A heavy farm implement with a blade used to break up soil and cut furrows in preparation for sowing.
Scarify
To mechanically break up the soil surface or to weaken a hard seed coat to encourage germination.