The high resistance and energy consumption of deep tillage operations reduce the economic benefits of conservation tillage. This study is based on an air-assisted wing-shaped deep tillage subsoiler previously developed by the research team. Biomimetic elements from the geometric structures of badger claws and pangolin scales were incorporated into the coupling design applied to the subsoiler tip of the air-assisted wing-shaped deep tillage subsoiler. To better explore the key parameters affecting the reduction in the resistance and wear in the coupled biomimetic deep tillage subsoiler and to identify new variations in the complex coupled biomimetic structure during deep tillage, field experiments were conducted. The results show that, under the experimental conditions of an air pressure of 2.2 MPa, a working speed of 3.31 km/h, and a subsoiler width of 150 mm, the deep tillage specific resistance (SDF) reached 3.12, demonstrating significant drag reduction effects. This research provides a new theoretical basis and practical guidance for the design and application of deep tillage subsoilers.

Mechanical harvesting damage is a critical factor constraining potato quality and storage performance. Field curing is a commonly employed pre-treatment prior to mechanical picking of potatoes, which promotes skin suberization and reduces mechanical damage; however, the determination of optimal curing duration lacks a theoretical basis. This study investigated ‘Xisen No. 6’ potatoes at harvest maturity. Curing was performed by field sun-drying (open-air exposure) immediately after mechanical excavation, with five duration gradients (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h) established under the recorded meteorological conditions. Twenty-two physical–mechanical and damage parameters were measured, and principal component analysis (PCA) was employed for comprehensive evaluation. The results demonstrated that curing induced a transformation of tubers from “soft-elastic bodies” to “hard-brittle bodies”. This study first revealed the contradictory evolution pattern between skin abrasion damage and tissue impact damage, which exhibited a strong negative correlation (r = −0.89, p < 0.01). PCA indicated that a 3 h curing duration could effectively balance the control of both damage types. These findings provide a quantitative solution to the dilemma of reducing skin damage while controlling impact damage during mechanical potato harvesting, offering significant guidance for optimizing harvesting process parameters and reducing postharvest losses.