Designed primarily for shallow cultivation of stubbles, the short disc cultivator, has become an increasingly popular farming tool – and so the makes, models, features and options available have multiplied.

Underlining their appeal, width options now extend from 2.5m to 18m to suit farms of all sizes.

Shoppers will also have to sift through a stack of choices that include serrated discs for shallow tilling, and fluted and scalloped discs for a more aggressive action.

Added to that is the choice of coil spring and rubber-cushioned disc mountings, as well as harrow tines and levelling boards between the disc gangs and paddle tines to adapt implements to ploughed land.

Extra versatility can also be added by fitting small seed broadcasters for cover crops and full-blown mechanical or air drills for establishing oilseed rape.

See also: Hired-in trencher offers cheaper way to improve drainage

Specs to consider before buying

• Disc size and shape
• Disc and gang spacing
• Under-frame clearance
• Disc carrier mounting
• Fixed or adjustable stagger
• Drawbar or linkage trailing
• Side disc height adjustment
• Anti-ridging soil shields
• Straw and levelling tines
• Different rollers and packers

Agri-Linc

Model: Proforge Inverta

Discs: scalloped 560mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm, fixed angle, adjustable stagger

Mounted: 2.7m, 3m (£7,350), 4m, 4.5m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 3m, 4m, 4.5m, 5m, 6m (£18,450)

Options: hydraulic front-levelling paddle tines on trailed models. Steel disc or rubber ring packers. Prices include side shields and either packer.

Amazone

Model: Catros

Discs: plain 460mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm, fixed angle, adjustable stagger

Mounted: 3m (£16,360), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m.

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£44,305), 7.5m, 12m

Options: hydraulic disc stagger; slurry application kit; crumbler, tandem crumbler, tooth packer, knife ring, “U” profile and rubber wedge ring rollers; GreenDrill seeder. Prices include 580mm wedge ring roller.

Amazone

Model: Catros+

Discs: scalloped 510mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm, fixed angle, adjustable stagger

Mounted: 3m (£17,935), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£47,350), 7.5m, 12m, 7/12m

Options: hydraulic disc stagger; crumbler, tandem crumbler, tooth packer, knife ring, “U” profile and rubber wedge ring rollers; GreenDrill seeder. Prices include 580mm wedge ring roller

Horsch

Model: Joker CT/RT Classic

Discs: scalloped 520mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: two discs per rubber-cushioned arm, fixed 17° angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£11,940), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 5m, 6m (£33,800), 8m

Options: steel disc, rubber tyre, crumbler, “U” profile and spring steel packers; MiniDrill seeder. Trailed price includes single steel packer

Horsch

Model: Joker RT

Discs: scalloped 520mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: two discs per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed 17° angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: n/a

Trailed: 4.75/5m, 5.75/6m (£39,520), 7.25m, 9.75m, 12.25m

Options: steel disc, rubber tyre, crumbler, “U” profile and spring steel packers; MiniDrill seeder. Price includes double steel packer.

Horsch

Model: Joker HD

Discs: scalloped 620mm at 260-276mm spacing

Mounting: two discs per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed 17° angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: n/a

Trailed: 5m, 6m (£47,020), 7.5m

Options: steel disc, rubber tyre, crumbler, “U” profile and spring steel packers; MiniDrill seeder. Price includes double steel packer.

Knight

Model: Bednar Swifterdisc XN/XO_F

Discs: fluted 520mm at 250-272mm spacing

Mounting: two discs per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£13,000), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 4.5m, 5m, 6m (£34,000), 7.5m

Options: scalloped 520mm discs at 250-272mm spacing, one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; levelling paddle tines; rubber profiled, steel ring, crumbler, “U” profile and spring steel packers; Alfa Drill seeder. Prices include side shields, steel ring packer, hydraulic depth adjustment; road lights.

Knight

Model: Bednar Swifterdisc XE

Discs: fluted 520mm at 250-272mm spacing

Mounting: two discs per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger.

Disc angle: fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: n/a

Trailed: 10m (£63,000), 12m.

Options: levelling paddle tines; rubber profiled, steel ring, crumbler, “U” profile and spring steel packers; Alfa Drill seeder. Price include side shields, steel ring packer, hydraulic depth adjustment; road lights.

KRM

Model: Agrisem Disc-O-Mulch Silver

Discs: scalloped 520mm + 460mm (rear) at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per double coil carrier; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£13,395), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£39,150)

Options: 560mm + 510mm (rear) discs; clod-breaking board ahead of row two discs; crumbler, spring steel, steel ring packers; air seeder. Prices include V-Sem steel ring and press tine roller.

KRM

Model: Agrisem Disc-O-Mulch Gold

Discs: scalloped 610mm + 560mm (rear) at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per double coil carrier; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£15,650), 3.5m, 4m 4.5m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4.5m, 6m (£46,800), 7m, 8m

Options: 610mm rear discs; clod breaking board ahead of row two discs; crumbler, spring steel and steel ring packers, rubber tyre packers; front hopper air seeder. Prices include V-Sem steel ring and press tine roller.

Kuhn

Model: Optimer+ 103/103R Series + 1003 Series

Discs: scalloped or serrated 510mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£14,789), 3.5m 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£42,642), 7.5m

Options: front stabilising wheels for 1003 Series trailed models; “T” ring, steel disc, rubber disc, crumbler roller; comb harrow; SH (small seed) and front hopper air seeders.

Kverneland

Model: Qualidisc Farmer

Discs: serrated 520mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 2.5m, 3m (£10,327), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£33,769)

Options: for Qualidisc Farmer trailed models – 573mm discs, hydraulic depth adjustment; front stabilising wheels and A-Drill air seeder; all models – serrated steel disc, steel ring and spring steel packers, single and twin crumblers.

Kverneland

Model: Qualidisc

Discs: serrated 573mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, adjustable stagger

Mounted: 3m (£14,542), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£40,592), 7m

Options: for Qualidisc trailed models – front stabilising wheels, A-Drill air seeder; all models – 520mm discs; steel disc, steel ring and spring steel packers, single and twin crumblers.

Lemken

Model: Heliodor 9/Heliodor 9 Gigant

Discs: shallow scalloped 510mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per spring steel carrier; fixed 16.5°, fixed stagger

Mounted: 2.5m, 3m (£10,733), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£31,576), 8m, 10m, 12m, 16m

Options: hydraulic levelling paddle tines; ballast weights; frame- and rear-mounted air drills; steel and rubber packers. Prices include double crumbler roller.

Lemken

Model: Rubin 9/Rubin 9 Gigant

Discs: scalloped 620mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per coil sprung arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 2.5m, 3m (£14,613), 3.5m, 4m, 4.5m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 4.5m, 5m, 6m (£41,850), 8m, 10m, 12m

Options: rear-mounted air drill; steel and rubber packers. Prices include double crumbler roller.

Lemken

Model: Rubin 12/Rubin 12 Gigant

Discs: scalloped 736mm at 334-388mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per coil sprung arm; fixed 16° angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£20,173), 3.5m, 4m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£60,353)

Options: mid flexible tine harrow, rear levelling harrow; steel and rubber packers. Price for mounted model includes single crumbler and transport wheel; trailed price includes double profile packer.

Philip Watkins

Model: Incorporator

Discs: scalloped 510mm at 266-272mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£7,500), 3.5m, 4m

Trailed: 4m, 4.8m, 6m (£28,000), 7m, 8m, 9m, 12m

Options: mid flexible tine harrow, levelling board or rake; steel disc packer, steel coil, cast serrated ring roller. Price for mounted model includes Flexicoil packer and road lights; trailed price includes 560mm serrated ring roller.

Pöttinger

Model: Fox D

Discs: serrated 410mm at 260-272mm spacing

Mounting: two discs per rubber-cushioned arm (two arms per clamp); fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£10,129), 3.5m, 4m

Trailed: n/a

Options: slurry application kit; crumbler, tooth packer, steel ring, serrated and rubber packers; mechanical seed drills. Price includes 550mm Pack Ring roller, side shields.

Pöttinger

Model: Terradisc

Discs: scalloped 580mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm (two arms per clamp); fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£16,268), 3.5m, 4m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£45,010)

Options: Tegosem air seeder; front levelling paddle tines; pre-packer and rear levelling harrows; single and double crumblers; steel ring, single and twin spring steel, steel disc, profiled rubber packers, twin-tined roller. Prices include Pack Ring roller, levelling harrow, side shields.

Sumo

Model: Mixidisc

Discs: scalloped 500mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: two discs per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 3m (£13,896), 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: 4m, 5m, 6m (£43,276), 7m

Options: wheel track eradicators, rear drawbar. Price includes Multipacka roller and (on trailed model) mid-mounted hydraulic levelling paddle tines.

Teagle

Model: Tulip Multidisc

Discs: scalloped 510mm at 260-278mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: 2.5m, 3m (£7,565), 3.5m, 4m, 5m, 6m

Trailed: n/a

Options: 560mm discs at 460-478mm (3m £10,080); pre-packer straw harrow; 3m/4m ballast box; crumbler, steel and rubber ring packers; side deflectors.

Väderstad

Model: Carrier/Carrier X

Discs: serrated 450mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed 16° angle, adjustable stagger

Mounted: 3m (£12,525), 3.5m, 4m

Trailed: 4.2m, 5m, 6.5m (£39,510), 8.2m, 9m, 12m

Options: scalloped 470mm or CrossCutter discs; front straw harrow, paddle levelling tines or CrossCutter rotor; slurry application kit; ballast weights; crumbler, steel ring, “U” profile and rubber ring packers; Biodrill air seeder. Price includes 550mm SteelRunner roller.

Väderstad

Model: Carrier L/Carrier XL

Discs: serrated 510mm at 250mm spacing

Mounting: one disc per rubber-cushioned arm; fixed angle, fixed stagger

Mounted: n/a

Width trailed: 4.25m, 5.25m, 6.25m (£45,155), 8.25m

Options: serrated 610mm discs; front straw harrow, paddle levelling tines or CrossCutter rotor; slurry application kit; ballast weights; crumbler, steel ring, “U” profile and rubber ring packers; Biodrill air seeder. Price includes 550mm SteelRunner roller.

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Other short disc harrow suppliers include J Brock & Sons (Farmet), Bullock Tillage, Dal-Bo, Great Plains, Gregoire-Besson, Köckerling, Manterra (Unia), Opico (He-Va), Quivogne, Terrington Machinery (Einböck), Vogel & Noot.