Efficiency & resource conservation

Achieve more, consume less.

How the one-pass system saves time, reduces fuel consumption, and protects the soil.

Modern agriculture is under pressure: rising costs, volatile prices in volatile markets, climatic uncertainties, stricter regulations. Efficiency is becoming a matter of survival. Those who consume less diesel, invest less working time, and maintain fewer machines remain economically viable.

DUTZI machines are designed for efficiency – without compromising on the quality of work. The OnePass principle combines several steps in a single pass: non-destructive deep-acting loosening, crumbling, sowing, and reconsolidation of the soil. What would otherwise require three or four separate passes is done by the DUTZI system in a single pass.

This saves time, reduces diesel consumption, lowers machine wear, and protects the soil. Fewer passes mean less soil compaction—an effect that pays off in the long term.

At DUTZI, efficiency means doing the right thing at the right time with the right tools. Not more passes, but fewer. Not more machines, but more precise ones. Not more power required due to heavily compacted soils, but less power required due to soils that are easier to drive on.

Conserving resources is not a secondary goal, but an intrinsic part of the system. Those who protect the soil save fuel. Those who reduce the number of passes save time. Those who buy durable machines save investment costs.

In this article, we explain how the OnePass system works, what savings it enables, and why efficiency and soil conservation go hand in hand.

The OnePass principle

The OnePass principle is based on a simple idea: multiple work steps are combined so that they can be completed in a single pass—without compromising quality or performance.

The four steps:

1. Non-destructive deep-acting loosening (front subsoiler)
The 7-8 cm wide tools of the front loosener break up the compaction layer vertically, creating hairline cracks that can develop to a depth of up to 2 meters in the 7-14 days after cultivation. At the same time, the soil is effectively aerated, which activates soil life. Loosening takes place in front of the tractor, so that the following implements work on soil that has already been loosened.

2. Crumbling (ROTOTILLER KR)
The DUTZI KR crumbles the soil with a vertically operating rotor. We offer two different rotor tools for crumbling: the traditional tines for stony soils and the virtually wear-free chisel for all other soils. As a third tool, we also offer mulching blades, which, however, have a different effect on the soil.

The tools pierce the soil – without smearing or compacting it. Crop residues are evenly mixed into the top 5–8 cm. The result: a fine crumbly structure that is ideal for plants.

3. Reconsolidation (roller)
The subsequent roller—sheet metal wheel roller or tooth packer roller—reconsolidates the soil without compacting it again. The rollers create soil closure without compacting. The rollers are large in size. Heading: Four work steps in one pass

4. Sowing (seed drill)
Any standard seed drill can be mounted on the KR. The seed is placed directly into the prepared, crumbly structure – at a uniform depth with optimal soil contact.

The result:
In one pass, the soil is loosened, crumbled, reconsolidated, and seeded. No additional passes, no additional machines, no additional time is required.

Why does the system work?

Spatial separation: The front subsoiler works in front of the tractor, the KR behind it – no overlap, no mutual interference
Optimal sequence: First loosen deeply, then crumble, then reconsolidate and sow – or sow first and then reconsolidate – depending on whether the seed drill is mounted directly on the KR via a saddle triangle or runs behind the roller via a hydraulic lifting device.
Adaptability: Each element can be adjusted individually – loosening depth, rotor revolutions (via PTO), roller pressure, sowing depth

Who is OnePass suitable for?

Farms with limited human resources (few staff, tight time frames)
Farms under cost pressure (diesel, machine wear)
Farms on compacted soils (heavy soils, high rainfall)
Farms that want to minimize the number of passes (soil conservation)

Time savings in practice

Fewer trips = more time for other tasks

Time is a scarce commodity in agriculture. The sowing window is short. The weather is unpredictable, and labor is limited. Every hour saved counts.

Time savings = flexibility

Time savings make all the difference, especially in tight time frames (e.g., optimal sowing dates for rapeseed or grain). Those who finish faster can react to weather changes, work additional areas, and take on contract work.

Less personnel costs

In businesses with few employees (family businesses, sole proprietors), time savings are essential. Those who work alone can cultivate more land in less time with OnePass – without having to hire additional workers.

Practical example:

A farm with 80 hectares of arable land, run by one farmer and one trainee, accelerated sowing by three days after switching to DUTZI OnePass. These three days made it possible to complete rapeseed sowing within the optimal time window – resulting in more uniform emergence, better overwintering, and higher yields.

Fuel savings

Fewer passes = less diesel

Diesel costs are one of the biggest variable cost factors in agriculture. Every trip consumes fuel – the heavier the machine, the deeper the cultivation, the higher the consumption.

Why does OnePass consume less?

Narrow tools: The front subsoiler works with 7–8 cm narrow tools, which move significantly less material than wide coulters (20–30 cm). Less material = less traction = less diesel.
Optimal working depth: 25-35 cm is deep enough to be effective and shallow enough to be efficient. Deeper cultivation (40-50 cm) consumes considerably more fuel but offers little additional benefit.
Only one pass: Each pass consumes diesel fuel – for travel to the field, tillage, return trip, and turning. OnePass reduces these trips to a minimum.

Long-term effects:

Loosened soil is easier to work. Farms that have been working with DUTZI for years report that subsequent tillage operations (e.g., harrowing, hoeing) also require less traction because the soil structure is better.

Reduce machine wear

Fewer crossings = longer machine service life

Every pass puts strain on machines: bearings wear out, tools wear down, hydraulics are stressed, tires wear out. Fewer passes mean less wear and tear – and therefore lower maintenance costs.

Wear reduction with OnePass:

Tractor: Fewer operating hours, less engine wear, fewer maintenance intervals
Tires: Fewer passes = longer tire life
Tools: DUTZI tools are designed for durability; loosening tines wear less than wide coulters

Durability of DUTZI machines:

DUTZI machines are legendary for their durability. Many KRs are still working reliably after 20-30 years. The bearings are sealed in multiple stages, the frames are torsion-resistant, and the tools are interchangeable.

This durability significantly reduces depreciation per hectare. While conventional tillage equipment needs to be replaced after 10-15 years, DUTZI machines last twice as long.

DUTZI machines require little maintenance. Lubricating the bearings once per season, checking the tools before the start of the season, occasionally replacing wear parts – that's it. No complex electronics, no vulnerable hydraulic controls, no expensive special tools.

Conclusion:

Durability is an underestimated efficiency advantage. DUTZI machines are more expensive to purchase, but cheaper over their lifetime.

Soil conservation through fewer crossings

Every pass compacts the soil – OnePass minimizes this effect

Soil compaction is caused by pressure – especially from repeated passes with heavy machinery. Every pass over the field compresses soil pores, reduces air circulation, and impairs root growth.

Compaction due to passes:

Even modern tractors with wide tires and tire pressure control systems cause soil compaction – especially in the subsoil (from a depth of 20 cm), where the pressure is no longer cushioned by the tires.

Conventional method: 4 passes