Hasbergen, Germany - AMAZONEN-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH., an agricultural machinery manufacturer, has introduced its new TopCut 5000-2 and 6000-2 mounted cutting rollers, designed for ultra-shallow soil tillage, stubble cultivation, and catch crop management. Available in 5 m and 6 m working widths, the machines aim to support farmers in reducing chemical use, improving soil moisture retention, and accelerating organic matter decomposition.
The TopCut systems are engineered to create ideal seedbeds for volunteer cereals, weeds, and grass weed seeds by working the top 0–2 cm of soil. This shallow cultivation encourages germination of unwanted plants, which can then be mechanically controlled in a follow-up pass, reducing the reliance on plant protection agents.
Intensive shredding and bruising of crop residues, such as rape or sunflower stalks, accelerate decomposition by soil organisms and micro-organisms. This process enhances nutrient availability, reduces fungal disease transmission, and preserves soil moisture by maintaining an even straw or residue cover.
The machines consist of two knife rollers running in tandem, similar to compact disc harrows, providing intensive shredding of long plant residues. Optional three-row straw harrows improve residue distribution, shake seeds from straw or pods, and create additional fine soil. Harrow aggressiveness can be adjusted hydraulically from the cab, and HD variants with tungsten carbide tips are available for extended service life.
The base TopCut machine can be mounted on the front or rear linkage (Cat. 3 and 3N), while the harrow-equipped version is rear-mounted. Front mounting is particularly effective for shredding catch crops without compaction from tractor tires, and it can be combined with a compact disc harrow or direct seed drill to implement the “Cut ‘n’ Sow” principle—shredding residues and sowing the next crop in a single pass.
With a working speed of up to 20 km/h and reversible knives to extend tool life, the TopCut 5000-2 and 6000-2 offer high daily work rates, low fuel consumption, and compatibility with mulch sowing systems, plough-based sowing, or direct drilling. The combination of high performance and reduced wear costs aims to deliver a reliable, sustainable, and cost-efficient solution for modern crop management.