Rotary hoe vs. tined weeder
ROTARYSTAR or AEROSTAR: Which technology is best for
which situation?
Mechanical weed control always depends on the crop stage, soil conditions, weed pressure, and the intended application goal. Tined weeders and rotary hoes share similar objectives but operate differently and show it strength in different situations.
Classic areas of application
Tined weeder AEROSTAR
Each of our AEROSTAR models is primarily used to regulate weeds as early as possible.
Typical areas of application:
- Blind weeding before the crop emerges
- Weeding in the early stages of crop growth
- Full-area cultivation regardless of the crop row
- Very fine and flat operation is possible and is very gentle on the crop when properly adjusted
- Control of seed-borne weeds at the cotyledon stage
- Weeds are:
- covered
- uprooted
- deposited on the surface to dry out
- Typical crops: Standard arable crops, vegetables, herbs, etc.
- Weakness: When the soil is heavily crusted or still too wet/moist
Rotary hoe ROTARYSTAR
The ROTARYSTAR is used when the main objective is to break up the crust or aerate the soil.
Typical areas of application:
- Breaking up soil crusts and aerating the topsoil shortly before or after emergence
- Interrupting capillary action & promoting gas exchange in the soil
- Use after a crust or heavy rain
- Controlling small weeds by covering them with soil and uprooting them
- Typical crops: Grains, corn, soybeans, …
- Weakness: Full-surface cultivation and perfect weed control, sandy or light soil
In short: The tined weeder has advantages in weed control, while the rotary hoe has advantages in aeration and crust breaking.
Technical differences
Tined weeder AEROSTAR
AEROSTAR tined weeders use weeder tines that work the soil at the surface.
Technical features:
- Tines work the entire area
- High productivity thanks to large working widths of up to 24 m / 80 ft and working speeds of up to 10 km/h / 6 mph
- Up to 7 kg / 15 lbs of down pressure and excellent soil adaptation
- Aggressive setting via tine position, pressure and working speed
ROTARYSTAR rotary hoe
The ROTARYSTAR operates with rotating stars that actively engage the soil surface.
Technical features:
- Rotating rotor stars with spoon-shaped tines spaced 9 cm / 3.5” apart and arranged in two rows
- Very intensive, localized penetration of the soil surface
- The high down pressure of 35 kg / 77 lbs per rotor arm ensures optimal results even in cases of extreme crusts
- Good soil adaptation even under uneven conditions
- Working speeds of 15–20 km/h or 9-12 mph
“In practice, it’s not just the machine that matters, but above all the right time of operation. Each of our various tined weeders demonstrate their strengths when dealing with very young weeds and for broad-scale weed control. The ROTARYSTAR is the ideal partner for the tined weeder when soil crusts or crusted soil need to be broken up beforehand.”
– Einböck product management
Differences between the two machines in operation
The AEROSTAR tined weeder is particularly effective against young weeds. It works especially well before the weeds reach a visible size. This requires suitable soil conditions, namely, pourable soil, dry weather after weeding, and a crop that tolerates the treatment well. The higher the working speed and tine aggressivity, the more intense the treatment; therefore, the settings must always be adapted to the crop’s development. For sensitive crops such as corn or beets at the cotyledon stage, weeding must sometimes be performed very delicately.
In comparison, the ROTARYSTAR rotary hoe is designed more for loosening the soil, breaking up crusts, and aeration. By breaking up compacted soil and soil crusts, it creates the pourable soil structure that a tined weeder needs to work effectively. This makes it particularly well-suited as the first pass in spring.
The rotary hoe also demonstrates its advantages on loamy soils: It operates with high output while still being gentle on crops, even with small crops, such as in corn or soybeans. Additionally, small weeds are buried or uprooted, though this is merely a “side effect”. Especially on compacted soils, in mulch-seeded fields, or after rainfall, the rotary hoe can expand the window of weeding and create perfect conditions for subsequent weed control. That is why the rotary hoe is also extremely popular among conventional farms for crust breaking after heavy rainfall.
“Mechanical weed control works best when farmers can respond flexibly to the crop, soil, and weather conditions. That is precisely why we view the tined weeder and the rotary hoe as two tools that can ideally complement each other in a professional strategy.”
– Leo Einböck
At a glance:
- If you want to control young weeds very early, thoroughly, and across the entire field, use the tined weeder.
- Those who also want to perform crust breaking, loosen compacted soil, and support the crop after difficult weather conditions will find the rotary hoe to be the perfect complement.
- In a professional weed control strategy, both machines have their place on both organic and conventional farms, either used alone or in combination.
