Abstract: Loading plastic soils into bending is an effective method of causing soil fracture with both minimum force and energy requirements. The results of further study indicate that bending fracture is well achieved by using rotating cutting blade and a reaction plate about which bending is induced. By the correct positioning of the reaction plate and rotating blade, the tangential force and energy requirement can be reduced to approximately 50 %～65 % and 20 % respectively, of that required by the rotary cutting techniques widely used in the tillage of paddy fields.