BCS 850 + Berta 30" Flail Mower with Scarifier Blades for soil prep

[Tractororganic]

After talking with Dave at Earth Tools, I'm going to try preparing soil for cover crop seeding (using my 10 year old Earthway 2570 hand crank seed spreader) using my 1995 BCS 850 and 2020 30" Berta Flail Mower set to low and equipped with new scarifier blades ($98). I can't afford the Rinaldi R2 Power Harrow ($2520) and Drop Seeder ($1700). I usually just rototill a field, spread seed and then roll it over with a water-filled 48" roller that I have rigged up to attach to the BCS. This method does provide good seed to soil contact and ok results with shallow seed crops like clover, but I've never gotten great germination rates on cover crops that were supposed to be buried 1/2" to 1" deep like common oats. I have seen listed cultipackers ($1500-$3000) for 3 point hitch 4 wheel tractors (I have a New Holland TC40D compact tractor), but a long time ago I discovered that heavy equipment causes hard pan, so I prefer the much lighter walk behind system to avoid that in my organic farming practices. I'm hoping the scarifirer blades will slit the rototilled soil surface and provide mini-trenches for the seeds to fall in. Then I'll roll them over.
Has anyone tried this method?

 

[aesanders]

No, mine is strictly used as a tiller. Good luck. Let us know how it works out. I doubt if Dave would steer you wrong.