kultivator

Kultivator is a term used in several Nordic languages to describe a piece of agricultural equipment designed to aerate soil, uproot weeds, and prepare seedbeds. In English it corresponds to cultivator. A kultivator can be manual or motorized. Manual cultivators typically consist of a short handle with a set of curved tines or claws that are pushed or pulled through the soil to loosen it. They are suitable for small garden beds and for weeding between rows without heavy soil disruption.

Powered kultivators come in electric or gasoline variants. They feature a rotating set of tines attached to a rotating shaft driven by a motor. The tines break and mix the top layer of soil, loosened to a shallow depth, and uproot weeds. Some models include wheels or skids for easier guiding and adjustable depth settings. In garden use, cultivators are used after an initial tilling to maintain soil aeration, mix in compost, and curb weed growth. They are generally intended for shallow cultivation (often a few centimeters deep), whereas larger tillers are used for deeper soil disruption.

Usage and safety: operate on dry soil to prevent clumping; start with a low speed and gradually increase; move in straight lines; keep hands, feet, and loose clothing away from rotating tines; disconnect the power source before adjustments or clearing jams. Maintenance: clean after use, inspect and sharpen tines, lubricate moving parts, and replace worn components.

Etymology: kultivator derives from Latin cultura through Old French cultivateur, and in Nordic languages the spelling with k is common.

See also: tiller, rotavator, hoe, garden tool.