Potato Ploughs

Category: Agriculture

Summary: A potato plough, also known sometimes as a potato lifter or potato digger, is an agricultural implement specifically designed for harvesting potatoes.

A potato plough, also known sometimes as a potato lifter or potato digger, is an agricultural implement specifically designed for harvesting potatoes. Unlike standard ploughs used for primary soil tillage, a potato plough works by running a specialized share or blade beneath the rows or ridges where potatoes have grown. This share lifts the potatoes, along with the surrounding soil and residual plant matter (vines), out of the ground. As the mixture of soil and potatoes moves over or through the plough's structure (which may include vibrating chains or grids on more advanced versions), some separation occurs, making the potatoes more accessible. The primary function is to unearth the potato tubers, typically depositing them onto the surface of the field, often in a row, where they can then be gathered manually or by subsequent harvesting machinery. It represents a mechanized method to simplify the labor-intensive task of digging up potatoes.