Mouldboard Plough Guide: 15 Sizes for 15–120 HP and Reversible Models

A mouldboard plough turns each slice of soil completely over, burying weeds, stubble and pests and leaving a clean field for the harrow and seeder. Choosing one is mostly about matching the number of shares and the working depth to your tractor power and soil – get that right and the plough will pull straight, dig evenly and last for years.

How a Mouldboard Plough Works

Each plough body has three main parts: the share, a pointed steel blade that cuts the furrow slice horizontally; the mouldboard, a curved plate that lifts and twists the slice; and the landside, which runs against the furrow wall and keeps the plough straight. As the tractor moves forward, the slice is turned upside down into the previous furrow.

The result is complete inversion: residue and weed seeds go to the bottom, loose soil comes to the top. That is why this plough (moldboard plow in US English) is still the first choice for clean ploughing of grassland, weedy fields and loam or clay that is not too stony. On hard, stony or root-filled ground a disc plough copes better – see our disc plough vs mouldboard plough comparison.

SH Mouldboard Plough Sizes and Specifications

Our three-point mounted models come in light, medium and heavy-duty versions with 2–6 shares for 15–120 hp tractors. Figures are from our ploughs page.

Model	Working width (m)	Working depth (mm)	No. of shares	Weight (kg)	Matching power (hp)
1SH-220	0.4	180–250	2	60	15–20
1SH-320	0.6	180–250	3	100	25–30
1SH-420	0.8	180–250	4	155	35–40
1SH-520	1.0	180–250	5	180	45–55
1SH-225	0.5	200–250	2	125	25
1SH-325	0.75	200–250	3	160	35–45
1SH-425	1.0	200–250	4	210	50–60
1SH-525	1.25	200–250	5	260	60–70
1SH-330	0.9	260–300	3	240	50–55
1SH-430	1.2	260–300	4	310	65–75
1SH-530	1.5	260–300	5	380	80–100
1SH-335	1.05	280–350	3	280	50–75
1SH-435	1.4	280–350	4	–	80–100
1SH-535	1.7	280–350	5	–	100
1SH-635	2.1	280–350	6	–	120

For big tractors we also build hydraulic reversible ploughs: 1SH-345 (6 shares, 1.35 m, 120–150 hp, 1000 kg), 1SH-445 (8 shares, 1.8 m, 150–180 hp, 1200 kg) and 1SH-545 (10 shares, 2.25 m, 180–240 hp, 1400 kg), all working at 350–400 mm. Specifications are for reference; customisation is available.

How to Match a Mouldboard Plough to Tractor HP and Soil

The table’s last column is your starting point. Then adjust for soil and depth:

• 1SH-220 to 1SH-520: 2–5 shares, 180–250 mm deep, for 15–55 hp tractors, vegetable plots and lighter soil.
• 1SH-225 to 1SH-525: 2–5 shares, 200–250 mm, for 25–70 hp, a common choice for maize, wheat and cotton farms.
• 1SH-330 to 1SH-530: 3–5 shares, 260–300 mm, for 50–100 hp.
• 1SH-335 to 1SH-635: 3–6 shares, 280–350 mm, for 50–120 hp, deep ploughing and heavy clay.

Heavy clay, wet soil and deep work need more power per share, so drop one share if your tractor is at the bottom of the range. In our range, a 3 furrow plough such as the 1SH-325 or 1SH-330 suits about 35–55 hp. Not sure about your power? Read our tractor horsepower guide or use the selection assistant.

Setting Up for a Straight, Even Furrow

1. Level side to side with the tractor lift rod so all bottoms cut the same depth. On the first pass you may need to set one side lower to cut a full first furrow.
2. Level front to rear with the top link so the front and rear bottoms work equally.
3. Set the front furrow width so the first body cuts the same width as the others; if the plough pulls sideways, adjust the cross shaft.
4. Start shallow, check how the slices turn, then go to full depth.
5. Keep a steady speed. Too slow and the slice does not turn fully; too fast and soil is thrown and furrows become uneven.

Fixed or Hydraulic Reversible Plough?

A fixed plough throws soil to one side only, so you plough in lands and leave a dead furrow and a ridge in each field. A hydraulic reversible plough carries two sets of bodies, one right-hand and one left-hand. At the end of each pass the hydraulic cylinder turns the frame over, and the next furrow falls the same way. Fields stay level, there are no dead furrows and headland time drops.

The trade-off is weight and power: our reversible models need 120–240 hp. For most farms under 100 hp, a well-set fixed plough is the practical choice; for large, open fields and contractors, the reversible plough saves the most time.

Maintenance and Spare Parts

• Check shares daily in sandy or stony soil and replace them before they wear into the frog or mouldboard.
• Tighten share and mouldboard bolts after the first hours, then weekly.
• On reversible models, check hydraulic hoses, the turnover cylinder and pivot pins before each season.
• Clean and oil the mouldboard surfaces before storage so they stay smooth and scour well.

Order spare plough shares and bolts with the machine so customers are never stopped mid-season.

Common Buying Mistakes

• Choosing too many shares for the tractor, so the plough cannot reach depth.
• Buying this type of plough for very stony or root-filled land, where a disc plough works better.
• Ignoring the tractor’s lift capacity and three-point category.
• Forgetting spare shares for the first season.

Why Buy Direct from the Factory

Shenghang makes mouldboard, disc, reversible and paddy field models in our own factory and sells factory direct, with SH labelling, OEM options, export packing and shipping by sea, rail or air – see export and shipping. After ploughing, finish the seedbed with a disc harrow or rotary tiller. Good primary tillage is part of sustainable agricultural mechanization.

Mouldboard Plough FAQ

What size moldboard plow for a 50 hp tractor?

In our range, the 1SH-520 (45–55 hp), 1SH-425 (50–60 hp) and 1SH-330 (50–55 hp) fit a 50 hp tractor. Choose the 3-share 1SH-330 for heavy soil and deeper work.

How deep does a mouldboard plough work?

From 180 mm on the smallest models up to 350 mm on the 1SH-335 to 1SH-635 group, and 350–400 mm on the hydraulic reversible models.

Is a reversible plough better than a fixed plough?

It leaves a level field with no dead furrows and saves headland time, but it needs 120–240 hp in our range.

Mouldboard or disc plough (plow) for hard soil?

Disc ploughs roll over stones and roots and cope better with hard, dry ground; mouldboard ploughs give cleaner inversion in loam and clay.

Get a Quote

Send us the model (for example 1SH-330), quantity, your tractor HP and destination port on WhatsApp +86 133 8469 2372. We will reply with a quotation and packing details. See every model on our mouldboard plough and plough page.