Rotavator
Turns the field into a fine seedbed in one or two passes and mixes stubble into the soil. Popular for wheat after paddy, vegetables and sugarcane. It needs more HP and more diesel, and using it every year can form a hard layer below.
Cultivator
Breaks and loosens soil and pulls out weeds. Covers more acres on less HP and diesel, and costs less. You need two or three passes for a fine seedbed.
When to use which
- Little time after paddy and lots of residue: rotavator
- Dry, light soil and a tight budget: cultivator
- Tractor under 35 HP: cultivator or a light 4–5 ft rotavator
- Both get SMAM subsidy — the rotavator ceiling is higher