Design and Test of Vertical Axis Rotating Cutters for Cutting Corn Roots and Crown

In this study, the bionic cutter and the multi-curve cutter were designed for cutting crowns and roots, respectively. Two types of cutters were integrated into the device. This integration aims to address the issues of the poor effect of cutting the root–crown, the high disturbance rate of the soil, and the high power consumption of the device. The cutters for cutting crowns imitating the outline and action of a cat’s claw were designed based on reverse engineering technology. The multi-curve cutters for cutting roots were designed based on the distribution characteristics of roots in different soil layers. The discrete element method (DEM) was employed to simulate the process of cutting the root–crown. The accuracy of the DEM simulation result was verified by comparing it with the field test result. The result showed the device could cut the root–crown efficiently, which facilitated the decomposition of the root–crown into organic matter. While minimizing soil disturbance and power consumption, this design effectively maintained soil moisture retention, reduced erosion, and created favorable conditions for subsequent crop growth. The qualified rate of root–crown length, the rate of soil disturbance, and the power consumption of the device were significantly affected by the forward speed of the device and the rotational speed of the cutter shaft. The qualified rate of root–crown length, the rate of soil disturbance, and the power consumption of the device would be increased with the increase in the rotational speed of the cutter shaft. With the increase in the forward speed of the device, the rate of soil disturbance and the power consumption of the device were also increased, but the qualified rate of root–crown length was decreased. To minimize the rate of soil disturbance and the power consumption of the device while meeting the national standard for the qualified rate of root–crown length, the optimal operating conditions were that the forward speed of the device was 0.71 m·s −1 and the rotational speed of the cutter shaft was 380 r·min −1 . At this time, the qualified rate of root–crown length was 90.54%, the rate of soil disturbance was 18.56%, and the power consumption of the device was 3.835 kW. This study provides technical support for designing the device for cutting the root–crown, and, more importantly, offers a sustainable root–crown management solution that addresses the key challenge in the modern conservation tillage system, effectively balancing root–crown cutting efficiency with soil health preservation.