Spring pre plant tillage

Dave from MN · Nov 22, 2013

Chisel plowed all my problem feilds this fall, not as deep as I would have liked, but as deep as I cold go with the twisted shovels wear. Next year will be new shovels and will get another 3". Any way, I have a feild cutlivator with 7" sweeps. On the feilds with clay and certain soils that hard pan happens, I would like to prevent as much as possible in the soil that was worked this fall, from spring tillage. Are the sweeps an issue witht his? Should I change to points? I know the sweeps are best for uprooting weeds, but I can kill weeds other ways, I cant fix root stopping soil after planting. I have a friend that has a Deutz-Allis 1400 field cultivator that to me seems to be very solid and well built with a GREAt willrich long tine harrow. It has sweeps, but they are worn, I am thinking I shuld buy it and put some good staight points on it, and it could be used on these soils in the pring rather than my other one with sweeps, which i would still use for the lighter soils(cause it is wider and a good match for the 4x4), the 1400 I thought then would be a good tool for fall been stubble and small grain stubble. Any thoughts.

Bill(Wis) · Nov 22, 2013

How deep were you able to get?

andy r · Nov 22, 2013

I really do not think the field cultivator with sweeps is a problem at all inregards to creating a hardpan. A field cultivator tends to lift the soil and not put pressure on the soil. On the other hand the edge of a disk blade will actually compact the soil. That is what I had always been told.

Wheat Farmer · Nov 22, 2013

Here is what I had. We would disk then chisel Wheat stubble in the Springs once or twice and then put on the sweeps and kill weeds until planting. Depending how the weeks were in the fall if we disk then or sprayed or nothing.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 22, 2013

you said you have clay a disc will bust the cluads a field cult wont, it will lift the dirt and rocks..in ohio i use a disc with 7" spacing and harragator behind.

Dave from MN · Nov 22, 2013

about 12" on average. Was like cement in in most area's

Dave from MN · Nov 22, 2013

Yeah, 2 of these feild have 40+ years of moldboard "spring" plowing, then a couple years of a VERY heavy disc over it in 2 wet springs. I hit it with a feild cultivator(bean ground) about 2-3", and that is abuot all the deeper the roots of the beans or corns went. Could not even dig deeper than that this summer with a bobcat doing soil exploration and root checking. New feild, lotta work to do, but very good soil once it will drain, lime nuetralizes, rocks picked, and hardpan shattered.

LonM · Nov 22, 2013

Sounds like most of your problems are deeper than what a field cultivator would reach, and if you work it dry the sweeps won't make a hard pan. But you could get out there with a danish tine cultivator or multi-weeder (same thing I think) just to level out your chisel plowing prior to planting. They won't move as much soil sideways like a field cultivator or disk. Maybe a custom ripping next fall would be good (if it is DRY)? I understand how heavy clay can be and how unforgiving it is! Good Luck,
Lon

farmerwithmutt · Nov 22, 2013

good ole hard pan ours was plow induced.seen a guy try and chisel didnt make any difference.finnally took 3 *14 plow on a 1650 and a d15 ahead of that rember the ole man getting mad when i droped it a little to far and stoped the parade quick and fast keep him awake that day

OliverGuy · Nov 22, 2013

You have a deeper tool like a ripper? Gonna need some HP. I rip my hard soils with a DMI 527, roots go deep... Saved my butt during the drought last year in the decent soil. Roots could get down to at least some moisture.

Bill(Wis) · Nov 22, 2013

I think you should go deeper, as Oliver Guy suggested. That's what I've been doing for a quite a few years and I'm happy. Soils vary from region to region, of course, and what works in one area might not in another. I know places where they have limestone down about 8". Forget deep ripping there! I go down 18" and would like to go deeper. Brillion zone commanders make it to 22" max. Do that once in the fall and leave it be. Then make one pass in the spring before planting with whatever you choose. Field cultivator with sweeps or a disc to get the weeds and something behind for smoothing if you want. Two passes, one in the fall and one in the spring.
PS. In the fall I use no-til ripper points.

VicS · Nov 22, 2013

I see you guys are into recreational tillage! Just No-Till it. May take up to 5 yrs for the soil to come back, but is well worth it. You can give up a little yield in exchange for Tractors, tools and Fuel.

Spring pre plant tillage

Dave from MN

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Bill(Wis)

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andy r

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Wheat Farmer

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Anonymous-0

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Dave from MN

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Dave from MN

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LonM

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farmerwithmutt

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OliverGuy

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Bill(Wis)

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VicS

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