AMAZONE innovation for EIMA 2026
TopCut 3000 mounted cutting roller combination for ultra-shallow working

With the new TopCut 3000, AMAZONE is expanding its range of mounted cutting roller combinations to include a version in a 3 metre working width. This all-rounder combines the intensive shredding of crop residues with ultra-shallow soil tillage and can be flexibly used as either front or rear mounted.

Ultra-shallow soil tillage to promote germination and yet retain moisture

After harvesting, it is crucial to stubble cultivate as soon as possible without moving a lot of soil. This helps to retain valuable moisture, whilst any crop residues are moved to speed up decomposition. At the same time, volunteer cereals and weed seeds are encouraged to emerge. This combination of shredding and creating good germination conditions with minimal soil disturbance is becoming particularly important in dry conditions and in the control of grass weeds.

For rapid germination, volunteer cereals and grass weeds need to be in contact with the soil without being too deep. There, they germinate quickly in the topsoil layer and can then be removed mechanically. This is particularly useful for volunteer rape and in fields with black grass or loose silky bent. Ultra-shallow top working therefore helps to manage seed potential and can reduce the need for chemical plant protection. In addition, the capillary action is only broken in the surface soil layer during the ultra-shallow top working. The underlying soil structure remains largely undisturbed and is able to absorb rainfall. Evenly distributed straw and plant residues cover the soil surface reducing evaporation and provide a protective insulating layer during dry spells.

 Intensive shredding with reversible knives

The main tool element of the new TopCut 3000 consists of two knife rollers arranged one behind the other. They shred and bruise long stalked residues. Short, defibred rapeseed and sunflower stalks, maize stubble or catch crops provide micro-organisms and soil organisms with a larger surface area to colonise, thereby promoting rapid decomposition. This improves field hygiene and makes locked up nutrients available earlier.

Despite the very shallow tillage depth of 0 to 3 cm, the knife rollers produce enough fine soil to encourage volunteer cereals, weeds and grass weeds to germinate. The high rotational speed of the rollers also generates an excellent crumbling effect. This makes the TopCut 3000 suitable for both seedbed preparation and creating a stale seedbed.

With high working speeds of up to 20 km/h and average fuel consumption of 1.5 to 2.5 l/ha, the machine operates effectively and efficiently. If the reversible knives are worn on one side, they can be rotated 180° and continue to be used with the other cutting edge. This doubles the service life of the knives, while reducing their wear costs by almost half.

 Flexible on the front and rear

The TopCut 3000 can also be operated on the front linkage of the tractor. For example, sunflowers can be shredded before they are run over by the tractor. At the same time, the tractor and tyres are protected from damage caused by organic matter. When used in combination with a disc harrow, catch crops or maize stubble can be shredded and incorporated into the soil in a single pass.

A pioneering machine combination is created by its use with a direct seed drill: the TopCut 3000 shreds the catch crop while the following crop is sown in the same pass. This variant of the "Cut 'n' Sow process" combines residue shredding and sowing, thereby enabling a cost-effective, fuel-efficient process chain, even in two-step operations.

 Straw harrow and GreenDrill 200 as additional optional equipment

A three-row straw harrow is available as an option when rear mounted. It improves the distribution of crop residues, shakes seeds out of straw, pods and ears of grain, and produces additional fine soil. Its aggressiveness can be adjusted hydraulically from the cab while the tractor is on the move.

In addition, the TopCut 3000 can be fitted with the GreenDrill 200 mounted seeder box. This allows a catch crop to be sown during soil tillage. The operation combines shredding, fine soil production, straw distribution and sowing into a single pass.

 Suitable for year-round use

The TopCut 3000 can be integrated into arable farming systems when mulch sowing, sowing after the plough and direct seeding. The range of applications extends from initial stubble cultivation and shredding of harvest residues in maize, oil seed rape and sunflowers to the management of catch crops. It complements the mounted models already available in working widths of 5 and 6 metres, as well as the trailed TopCut in a working width of 12 metres.

The advantages:

• Perfect shredding in rape, sunflowers, maize stubbles and in catch crops
• Optimum shredding for an accelerated decomposition process
• Soil tillage reduced to a minimum with a high proportion of fine soil for perfect germination conditions, even in cereal stubbles
• Improved straw distribution with the harrow
• Markedly reduced soil moisture loss in comparison to other systems
• Use on the front linkage or on the rear
• Very high work rates with low fuel consumption
• Reduced wear costs thanks to reversible knives => doubling of the service life