DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
ICS: 65.060  
HS 8432.10.00  
 
© EAC 2023  – All rights reserved              First Edition 2023 
  
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Agricultural machinery — Mouldboard ploughs — Part 2: Specification 
for tractor operated ploughs   
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 
 
 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
2 
  
 
 
  
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 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardizat ion, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
In order to achieve this objective, the Community established an East African Standards Committee mandated 
to develop and issue East Afric an Standards.   
The Committee is composed of representatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, together 
with the representatives from the private sectors and consumer organizations. Draft East African Standards 
are circulated to stakeholde rs through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner States. The comments 
received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance with the procedures 
of the Community.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep  pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing .  
DEAS 1178 -2:2023  was prepared by Technical Committee EASC/TC 042, Producti on and general 
engineering . DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
4 
 Agricultural machinery — Mouldboard ploughs — Part 2: 
Specification for tractor operated ploughs  
  
 
1 Scope  
This draft East African Standard specifies the requirements for tractor -operated  mouldboard ploughs 
used for tilling la nd. 
 
 
2  Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
ISO 8910, Machinery and equipment for working the soil – Mouldboard plough working elements – 
Vocabulary  
ISO 2859 -1, Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes — Part 1: Sampling schemes indexed by 
acceptance quality limit ( AQL) for lot -by-lot inspection  
DEAS 1182 , Agricultural machinery — Disc and mo uldboard ploughs — Test methods  
 
 
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply : 
 
3.1 colter  
flat knife or revolving disc, mounted in front of the plough bottom, which cuts the soil vertically  
 
3.2 frame  
structure to which the standards (refer to clause 3.12) are fitted  
 
3.3 frog  
central part of the plough to which the share, mo uldboard and landside are attached  
 
3.4 hit ch 
part of an implement designed to connect it to a power source  
 
3.5 landside  
part of the plough that presses and slides against the furrow wall, providing lateral stability during 
operation  
 
3.6 landside heel  
part, attached to the rear of a landside, whi ch applies the vertical load of the plough  bottom to the furrow 
bottom  
 
3.7 mo uldboard  
part of the plough  which lifts, inverts and throws the furrow slice to one side  
 
3.7.1 general -purpose mo uldboard  
plough  bottom that has less curvature than the stubble and can be used easily for stubble, ordinary trash 
and stalk cover land (see Figure 1a)  
 
3.7.2 slatted mo uldboard  
plough  bottom which is used in sticky soils and soils that does not scour on solid mo uldboard (see Figure 
1b) 
 
3.7.3 sod mo uldboard  
plough  bottom that has long, narrow and less sloping mo uldboard with a gradual twist that allows 
complete inversion of the furrow slice with minimum breakage (see Figure 1c)  
 
 
 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
3.7.4 stubble mo uldboard  
plough  bottom that has short, broader and curved more abruptly a long the top edge and is suited to work 
in soil which has been cultivated from year to year (see Figure 1d)  
 
 
 
 
Figure 1 – Types of Mo uldboard  
3.8 mo uldboard plough  
sliding implement that cuts, lifts, inverts and throws to one side a layer of soil (furrow  slice) to bury 
surface materials (see Figure 2)  
NOTE: Main component consists of share, mo uldboard and landside.  DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
6 
 
 
Figure 2 – Mouldboard plough  
3.8.1 left -hand plough  
throws the furrow slice to the left of the plough ’s direction  
 
3.8.2 right -hand plough  
throws the furrow slice to the right of the plough ’s direction  
 
3.8.3 two-way plough (reversible plough)   
reversible plough  
throws the furrow slice either to the left or right of the plough ’s direction  
 
NOTE: It consists of both the right -hand and left -hand  plough  with one type being used at a time. (see Figures 3 and 
4) 
 
Figure 3 – Reversible plough  for two-wheel tractor  DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
 
Figure 4 – Reversible plough  for four-wheel tractor  
3.9 plough  bottom  
working part of the plough  which includes the share, mo uldboard, and landside, all attached to the frog  
 
3.10 share  
part of the plough  that penetrates the soil and cuts the furrow slice horizontally  
 
NOTE: It may be single integral piece or may consist of replaceable components as illustrated in Figure 5.  
 
 
 
 
Figure 5 – Types of Share  
 
3.11 shin  
leading edge of the mo uldboard located above the landside  
 
3.12 standard (leg)  
upright support which connects the plough  bottom to tillage implement frame (see Figure 2)  
 
3.13 suction, horizontal  
horizontal clearance  DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
8 
 distance by  which the point of the share is bent out of line with the landside to cut the proper furrow width 
(see Figure 6a for tractor -operated  mouldboard plough ) 
 
3.14 suction, vertical  
vertical clearance  
distance by which the point of the share is bent downward f or the plo ugh to penetrate the soil to the 
proper depth (see Figure 6b for tractor -operated  mouldboard plo ugh) 
 
a. Top View  
 
b. Side View  
Figure 6 – Horizontal and Vertical Suction  
3.15 tailpiece  
optional accessory, attached to the wing of the mo uldboard to  improve inversion of the furrow slice  
 
3.16 trash board  
optional accessory, mounted above the shin, which deposits the upper edge of the furrow in the furrow 
bottom  
 
3.17 four-wheel tractor or riding tractor  
self-propelled, wheeled vehicle having two axle s designed to carry, pull or propel agricultural  implements 
and machines  DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
 
3.18 headland  
unplough ed portion of the field at both ends of the furrow strip initially used for turning the  tractor and 
implement  
 
3.19 mo uldboard plough  
sliding implement that cut s, lifts, inverts and throws to one side a layer of soil (furrow slice)  to bury 
surface materials  
 
3.20 walking agricultural tractor (two -wheel tractor/ hand tractor/ pedestrian tractor)  
two-wheel tractor  
hand tractor  
pedestrian tractor  
self-propelled mach ine having a single axle designed primarily to pull and propel trailed or  mounted 
agricultural implements and machinery  
 
4 Classification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.1 Tractor -operated  mouldboard plough 
4.1.1 Two -wheel Tractor (see Figure 7) 
 
 
Figure 7 – Mouldboard plough for two-wheel tractor  
 
4.1.2 Four -wheel Tractor  
4.1.2.1 Tractor -mounted mouldboard plough  
Type of plough  mounted on the tractor’s three -point linkage and depends upon the tractor for  its general 
operation (see Figure 8) 
 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
10 
 
 
 
Figure 8 – Tractor -mounted mouldbo ard plough  
 
4.1.2.2 Semi -mounted mouldboard plough  
Type of plough  that has the front end directly connected to the tr actor’s three -point linkage and its rear end is 
supported by furrow and land wheels. The plough  is also equipped with hydraulic  lines and c ylinders for its 
lifting and/or depth control. (see Figure 9) 
 
 
 
 
Figure 9 – Semi -mounted mouldboard plough  
 
4.1.2.3 Trailing mouldboard plough  
Type of plough  hitched to the drawbar or lower links of the tra ctor, supported by two or three wheels and 
equip ped with hydraulic lines and cylinders for lifting and/or depth control (see  Figure 10) 
 
 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
 
Figure 10 – Trailing mouldboard plough  
 
 
5 Size  
 
The size of the plough  shall be determined by measuring th e distance from the wing to the landside. The 
measuring d evice shall be held perpendicular to the landside during  measurement (see Figure 6a).  
 
 
6 Material  requirements  
 
 
 
6.1 Tractor -operated  plough s 
6.1.1 Two -wheel tractor -operated  plough s 
6.1.1.1 Forged steel and/or mild steel should be used in the manufactur e of the standard, frame,  landside and 
frog. 
6.1.1.2 Forged steel, mild steel, stainless steel and/or hard plastic should be used in the manufacture of the 
mouldboard.  
6.1.1.3 Share and Share Point  — The material shall preferably be medium carbon steel of  minimum hardness 
360 HBW . 
 
6.1.2 Four -wheel tractor -operated  plough s 
6.1.2.1 Cast iron and/or mild steel should be used in th e manufacture of the mo uldboard, standard, frame, 
landside and frog.  
6.1.2.2 Share and Share Point  — The material shall preferabl y be medium carbon steel of minimum hardness 
360 Brinell Hardness number.  
6.1.2.3 The mo uldboard may be coated with plastic or ceramics when used in sticky soils.  
 
 
7 Performance r equirements  
 
7.1 The maximum depth of cut of the plough  at the power range s pecified by the manufacturer shall be 
attained.  
7.2 Approximate four -wheel tractor engine power fo r specific mo uldboard plough  sizes under average 
operating conditions is given in Table 1.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
12 
 Table 1: Approximate four -wheel tractor engine power for spe cific mounted and semi -mounted 
mouldboard plough sizes  
 
Tractor Engine Power  
kW (hp)  
 No. of Plow Bottoms  
 Mouldboard plough  Sizes  
cm (inches)  
6 to 9 (8 to 12)  1 30 (12)  
11 to 15 (15 to 20)  1 41 (16)  
2 25 (10)  
19 to 22 (25 to 30)  2 36 (14)  
26 to 34 ( 35 to 45)  3 36 (14)  
3 41 (16)  
37 to 45 (50 to 60)  4 36 (14)  
48 to 56 (65 to 75)  5 41 (16)  
60 to 97 (80 to 130)  6 41 (16)  
 
 
8 Other r equirements  
 
8.1 Hitch of the mouldboard plough 
8.1.1 The hitch of the mo uldboard plough shall be compatible with the hitch of the two -wheel tractor.  
8.1.2 The hitch of the mo uldboard plough shall be compatible with the drawbar or three -point linkage 
of the four -wheel tractor.  
 
8.2 The plough shall be easy to operate such as:  
a. hitching to and unhitching from a wheeled  tractor;  
b. adjusting the depth of cut;  
c. changing the position of the plough with respect t o the line of pull of the draft tractor;  
d. maneuverability during turning;  
e. clearing blockages such as trashes, weeds, etc; and  
f. changing from transport mode t o work position and vice versa.  
 
 
9 Workmanship and f inish  
 
9.1 The mouldboard plough  shall be free from manufacturin g defects (i.e. sharp edges and surfaces, 
casting and/or welding defects) that may be detrimental to its operator.  
9.2 Except for plough bottom, other uncoated metallic surfaces shall be free from rust and  shall be 
painted properly.  
 
 
10 Sampling  
 
The mouldboard plough shall be sampled for inspection and testing in accordance with ISO 2859 -1. 
 
 
11 Test methods  
 
The sampled plo ughs  shall be te sted in accordance with DEAS 1182 . 
 
 
12 Marking and Labeling  
 
12.1 Each plo ugh shall be marked with the following information using a plate,  stencil or by directly 
punching it at the most conspicuous place:  
a) Name of the manufacturer or registered trademark  
b) Model  and size  
c) Serial number / Batch  number  
d) Country of origin  
e) Safety/precautionary markings shal l be provided.  
 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
12.2  The markings shall have a durable bond with the base surface material.  The markings shall be weather 
resistant  and under normal cleaning proced ures, it  shall not fade, discolor, crack or blister and shall 
remain legible.  Safety/precautionary markings  shall be in red color with a white background . 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1178 -2:2023  
14 
 Bibliography  
1) PAES 131: 2004 , Agricultural Ma chinery – Mouldboard plough  – Specifications