5-16 bottom plow

Dblair · Jul 19, 2015

how deep do some of you put these in ?

Mark-Mi · Jul 19, 2015

Eight inches.

casecollectorsc · Jul 19, 2015

When I was a kid, Dad always said a pliers depth. Saw him check it many times.
I have his pliers....6 1/2".

Hay maker2 · Jul 19, 2015

I was always told that the plow depth should be half the width of the bottom, this allowed the ground to roll over more consistent

RandyB(MI) · Jul 19, 2015

As everyone said below, but it's just a starting point. Type of soil , what you are plowing under , speed your tractor will pull 5/16s etc. If you can't pull it fast enough at 8" then I would say drop a bottom. What's the correct speed you ask? The speed at which it will throw the furrows together level at 8". Type of moldboards , soil type and moistness will also affect this. Experiment! Hopefully you have 100 + hp.

BushogPapa · Jul 19, 2015

Up TO 8" deep, but may be shallower if top soil is not that deep...

You don't want to turn up sub-soil..

Ron..

Leroy · Jul 20, 2015

He probably was using a 12" bottom as Deere said in advertisements of the 30's 6-7" for 12" bottoms. Normal rule is 1/2 the width of cut per bottom. Now there are plow bottoms that are designed different and they are called a deep tillage bottom and a 16" bottom in that size would be designed for 9-10" deep.

fixerupper · Jul 20, 2015

(quoted from post at 13:37:08 07/19/15) how deep do some of you put these in ?

I don't think there is one general pefect plowing depth. In drier climates where moisture conservation is important and trash is light, and moisture conservation is important 4" to 6" was the norm. In heavy clay based soils with plenty of trash or vegetation and saving moisture is not important 7" or 8" was more common. Here in Northwest Iowa back in the days when we mold boarded everything we would usually plow 7" to 8" but if we were spring or early summer plowing alfalfa stubble after taking off the first crop of hay we would plow shallower to conserve moisture for the soybean crop we planted into the newly plowed ground.

4xMF · Jul 20, 2015

Changing the plow depth a little from one year to another helps preventing a hard layer of compressed soil right beneath the furrow.

5-16 bottom plow

Dblair

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Mark-Mi

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casecollectorsc

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Hay maker2

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RandyB(MI)

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BushogPapa

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Leroy

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fixerupper

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4xMF

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