How to Choose a Combined Ridging, Fertilizing and Film-Mulching Machine? Key Points on Working Principle and Price Quotes
Many growers, when choosing ridging and film-mulching equipment, come across models like the "Chengfan 1GVFM-120 combined ridging, fertilizing and film-mulching machine," and what they care about most is exactly how much the dealer quote is. In fact, the price of the same type of implement is affected considerably by region, configuration, freight and promotional activities, so looking at a single quote alone is not very meaningful. The key is to first understand what this kind of machine can do and whether it suits your own field.
One Pass, Three Jobs Done at Once
A combined ridging, fertilizing and film-mulching machine, as the name suggests, merges work that used to be done step by step by hand or by several machines into a single pass. It is generally mounted at the rear of a tractor, and the power take-off shaft drives the rotary tillage components to first break up and level the soil, then form and shape the ridge; at the same time, a fertilizer discharge device applies base fertilizer evenly into the ridge body, and finally the film is laid and pressed into shape in one go. Many models can also lay drip irrigation tape at the same time. With several operations combined into one pass, working efficiency is high, the ridge shape is neat, and the film surface is laid tight and windproof; moisture retention, heat preservation and weed suppression are all considerably better than with manual film laying.
Suitable Crops and Key Points for Selection
This type of implement is used most often on vegetables and cash crops that require ridge cultivation and film mulching, such as carrots, white radishes, potatoes, Welsh onions, onions, peppers and cabbage. When buying, it is advisable to note a few points: first, look at the matching power - the implement has requirements for tractor horsepower, so do not use a small horse to pull a big cart; second, check whether ridge spacing, ridge height and ridge surface width can be adjusted, and whether they match your planting row spacing and film width; third, check whether the fertilizer discharge rate of the fertilizing device is adjustable and how well it adapts to granular fertilizer and compound fertilizer; fourth, look at the manufacturer's after-sales service - only those with easily available parts and staff who come to adjust the machine on site save you worry. If conditions allow, it is best to first watch the actual machine working at a demonstration event or in a large grower's field before deciding.
How to Ask About Quotes and How to Get Subsidies
When asking a dealer about the quote, do not just ask for a bare machine price; ask clearly whether freight is included, whether film-laying or drip irrigation accessories are included, and how long the warranty period is, and ask for a formal invoice, product certificate and user manual, as these are the documents for later subsidy applications and for protecting your rights. Agricultural machinery purchase subsidies are currently implemented widely across the country, but subsidy amounts and catalogue requirements differ from place to place, and how much the same model can receive in different provinces is not the same. Before buying, it is best to first check with the local agricultural machinery authority or through the official agricultural machinery purchase subsidy platform whether that model is in the subsidy catalogue and what the subsidy standard is, and then decide to place the order, to avoid the trouble of buying first and applying later.
Overall, a combined ridging, fertilizing and film-mulching machine suits users with a relatively large planting scale who ridge and mulch film year after year; for scattered small plots it may not necessarily be cost-effective. First clarify your own agronomic requirements, then compare the complete machine configuration and after-sales service of several dealers, and only then can you choose a model that is both easy to use and cost-effective.