Rain is essential for farming, but it also creates wet and muddy fields. The muddy fields create many challenges for farmers, especially during harvest season. One major problem is that heavy machinery, such as tractors, often gets stuck in the mud. This not only hinders their farming work but also damages the tractors. To overcome this issue, we recommend using 4WD tractors. 4-wheel drive tractors have a stronger grip on wet and muddy soil than 2WD tractors, providing better traction and stability.
Read the following blog to learn more about how 4WD tractors will help you handle harvesting during the heavy monsoon season. This blog also features efficient 4WD tractor models that you can use to do demanding farming tasks during the harvesting period of the kharif season.
4WD Tractors: Why Are They Best for Farming in the Rainy Season?
4WD tractors are efficient for all-weather farming. But they are especially suitable for the rainy seasons. These tractors provide power to all four wheels, which offers superior traction and reduced wheel slippage.
Here are 9 reasons why 4WD tractors are the best option to work on challenging soil conditions during the rainy season.
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Better Traction on Muddy Fields
4WD tractors provide a strong grip on muddy or waterlogged fields when the soil becomes loose or slippery. These tractors distribute engine power to all four wheels instead of just two, which means the load on the rear axle is reduced significantly.
As a result, the tyres keep the tractor moving forward, even if one wheel slips. This helps farmers continue their harvesting operations even during heavy rains.
For superior traction on muddy fields, the John Deere 5050 D-4WD tractor is a great choice with 50 HP and advanced gear options, ensuring better control in the field.
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Reduced Wheel Slippage
Wheel slippage is one of the biggest issues in farming during the rainy season. It makes the tractor sink deeper into the soft soil, forcing farmers to spend time pulling it out. However, when the engine torque is distributed equally on all four wheels, there is a higher balance even when the surface is slippery.
With all four wheels actively pulling in 4WD, the tractor maintains steadier forward motion, avoiding sudden jerks that lead to slippage.
With oil-immersed brakes and 15 forward + 15 reverse gear options, the Mahindra Novo 605 DI PP 4WD CRDI can be a reliable option for farmers and helps prevent wheel slippage as well.
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Smooth Operation of Harvesting Implements
Farmers often use heavy implements such as reapers, threshers, and harvesters. However, the use of these implements becomes a challenge as they become heavier because wet soil creates more resistance.
A 4WD tractor, however, keeps harvesting equipment running smoothly with:
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- Even power delivery so the tractor moves steadily without jerks.
- Prevents implements from stalling during operation.
- Maintains a constant speed
- Reduced vibrations and shaking
The Massey Ferguson 254 Dynatrack 4WD is a 50 HP tractor, capable of handling heavy implements with a 2050 kg hydraulic lifting capacity.
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Lower Fuel Wastage
Fuel efficiency is a major concern for farmers, especially during the rainy season. In rainy and muddy conditions, tractors often consume more fuel because of wheel slippage and extra engine strain. A 4WD tractor reduces fuel wastage in several ways:
- Prevents soil compaction with better weight and power distribution. This saves fuel that would otherwise be wasted pulling the tractor out of wet soil.
- Fewer repeated passes on fields as the tractor does not get stuck in soil, cutting fuel use significantly.
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Reduced Downtime
When tractors get stuck, farmers lose valuable time pulling them out or waiting for the ground to dry. This downtime directly affects harvesting and sowing, and in some cases, leads to crop loss. A 4WD tractor helps cut down these delays:
- Power goes to all four wheels, so the tractor keeps moving even when the soil is soft and slippery.
- Reduced wheel slippage means less strain on the engine and tyres, lowering the risk of breakdowns.
This helps farmers complete their harvesting operations on schedule, preventing crop loss.
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Minimise Crop Losses
Muddy fields due to rain lead to harvesting or transport delays, which can cause crops to rot, sprout, or lose quality. 4WD tractors provide strong traction to pull harvesting machines smoothly to ensure crops are collected on time. Furthermore, timely harvesting also ensures that crops don’t get water-soaked, preventing spoilage.
In addition, 4WD tractors can carry loaded trolleys through slippery village roads without getting stuck, ensuring crops reach storage or markets quickly.
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Prevents Soil Damage
When a tractor’s wheels slip too much, they dig deep ruts, compact the soil, and disturb its natural structure. This makes it harder for water to drain and roots to grow in the next season.
A 4WD helps protect the soil by spreading the power across all four tractor wheels, so it doesn’t sink too deeply into wet soil. It also prevents the tyre from spinning in one place, which stops the soil from being churned or damaged.
The Sonalika tractor model Tiger DI 50 4WD, for instance, prevents soil damage with larger front and rear tyres.
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Longer Life of Tyres
Constant slippage and sinking into soft soil puts extra stress on tyres, reducing their life. With shared workload on all four tyres in 4WD tractors, tyres don’t spin uselessly in the mud, reducing wear and tear. Reduced stress on tyres helps farmers save money on replacements.
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Versatility
4WD tractors are considered versatile, particularly for use during rainy seasons. These tractors provide enhanced traction and stability on muddy soil and steep inclines, making them reliable to use during the monsoon season. It also minimises slippage on uneven ground.
4WD tractors can easily handle demanding farming tasks, including ploughing and tilling, as well as hauling heavy loads with ease.
With improved manoeuvrability across tight spaces, 4WD tractors ensure the safety of the driver.
Conclusion
Farmers rely on 4WD tractors during the monsoon season to carry out their farming tasks. These machines are versatile, providing enhanced traction and stability, ensuring that farmers can harvest their produce on time. Additionally, 4WD tractors offer fuel efficiency and reduce the maintenance cost for farmers by handling high-power tasks efficiently.