Bottom Plow

[lakngulf]

I have concluded that I need either a bottom plow or a tiller to do a better job with food plots. I have good heavy duty Howse 66" Disc but it cannot break through the pasture areas of heavy bermuda and fescue grass.

The price of a tiller, and the thought of moving parts, and the relatively small usage, has led me away from that option. I possibly could be swayed, however.

The idea of a bottom plow to initially turn the soil is appealing. If I go this option what would you recommend for a Kioti CK30 gear? What should I look for? What should I avoid?

 

[beenthere]

I'd suggest a one-bottom plow that the Kioti should be able to handle easily. Either 14 or 16" bottom.
A 2 bottom with 14" plows would possibly work as well.

I agree that your thought of a moldboard plow followed by your Hose disc will work up your planting ground nicely.

I picked up a 60" tiller for $500 and it has been working great for my food plots. I wish the deer liked the "food" better than they apparently do at this time. Three different clovers that came up nicely, but don't seem to interest the deer.

 

[nybirdman]

A tiller is not going to break thru sod....need to plow first....even and inexpensive single bottom(Tractor supply ($130.00) some-times called a potatoe plow....THEN TILL with roto-tiller.I do 10 acres a year;works for me.
I have found on small tractors a tiller does a lot better than discs.One pass on plowed ground with a tiller.....4 with a disc.

 

[sweettractors]

I have concluded that I need either a bottom plow or a tiller to do a better job with food plots. I have good heavy duty Howse 66" Disc but it cannot break through the pasture areas of heavy bermuda and fescue grass.

The price of a tiller, and the thought of moving parts, and the relatively small usage, has led me away from that option. I possibly could be swayed, however.

The idea of a bottom plow to initially turn the soil is appealing. If I go this option what would you recommend for a Kioti CK30 gear? What should I look for? What should I avoid?

Either of these plows should workout nicely on that tractor. Both are set up as 2-12 auto trip beams. $495 choice. One is a John Deere and the other is a Oliver. Ken Sweet

 

[PA hayseed]

A tiller is not going to break thru sod....need to plow first....

I disagree and currently have the garden to prove it. Go slow, adjust the depth on multiple passes, eventually till to full depth. have done this hundreds of times, multiple locations. I put in gardens for friends and family everywhere I have ever lived and have always followed the same process. I have never had my areas plowed before tilling. I've been tilling gardens since I was a kid, and we always did it the same way everytime. Now, for a very large area over several acres, this system will still work but would not be advisable unless you are retired and have nothing better to do. Then I would suggest following nybirdman's advice. I would say an acre or two isn't too large to do my way.

Another idea may be to use the scarifiers on a box blade prior to tilling. IF you have the BB it might save a couple of dollars. I don't know about you, but I don't have a money tree in my backyard.

 

[sweettractors]

When I plow, I plow about 8-10 inches deep. Will a tiller work that deep? Ken Sweet

 

[MtnViewRanch]

When I plow, I plow about 8-10 inches deep. Will a tiller work that deep? Ken Sweet

If you have the right tiller and a big enough machine to use it. :laughing:
Probably not going to work for this guy though.

 

[dourobob]

Maybe you could find an old Ferguson or Ford two furrow that would work.
I have seen them around here for $50 and $60 at auctions.

 

[PA hayseed]

When I plow, I plow about 8-10 inches deep. Will a tiller work that deep? Ken Sweet

not 10 and likely not 8 depending on tiller/angle of tiller. When I till, my soil is like powder when done and I love it. I do a lot of mound planting, so when I mound I have about a foot+ of powder soil I am planting in. I know a plow isn't doing that. IF your good you flip your soil all the way over with a plow, if your not good you ran a hunk of metal 8-10 inches into the ground. at the end of the harvest season, my tiller will outwork any plow for putting under all those plants and reject vegies (in a small area). As they say, economy of scale and all that.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against plows by any means. I am actually still looking for an el cheapo 2 or 3 bottom (remove the third) so that in about another 8 years or so I can bust up the hardpan from the tiller. Until then I am fine.

 

[sweettractors]

not 10 and likely not 8 depending on tiller/angle of tiller. When I till, my soil is like powder when done and I love it. I do a lot of mound planting, so when I mound I have about a foot+ of powder soil I am planting in. I know a plow isn't doing that. IF your good you flip your soil all the way over with a plow, if your not good you ran a hunk of metal 8-10 inches into the ground. at the end of the harvest season, my tiller will outwork any plow for putting under all those plants and reject vegies (in a small area). As they say, economy of scale and all that.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against plows by any means. I am actually still looking for an el cheapo 2 or 3 bottom (remove the third) so that in about another 8 years or so I can bust up the hardpan from the tiller. Until then I am fine.

A Subsoiler would also breakup the hard pan. Ken Sweet

 

[PA hayseed]

A Subsoiler would also breakup the hard pan. Ken Sweet

I *rented* one from tractor supply, the subsoiler barely went into the ground. It went back to TSC the next day. I have read on TBN about people using subsoilers, but they must have smaller sized tractors. Either that, or I would need to find a different subsoiler.

 

[beenthere]

There are subsoilers, and then there are "wanna be" subsoilers.

And correct adjustment is most important, as well as point of pull and point of push to make a subsoiler work. Might be the simplest tool for the 3ph that requires the most adjustment of any to get it to work.

 

[Kioti4me]

Hello Everyone:

I have a CK35 and land in northern Minnesota. I have tried all the attachments you been discussing. I borrowed a 2 bottom plow from a friend and found that not to be practical because of all the tree roots, stumps etc. I ended up buying a sub-soiler (heavy duty) and mounted a 12" potato blade on it replacing the chisel. (Which I still use from-time-to-time) The sub-soiler works great for ripping up the roots, sod, old stumps etc. After cleaning up the roots etc. I go over it with a 60" JD tiller I purchase off of Craigslist. Over all the tiller works best for all rework applications, but when opening new ground start with a sub-soiler. I beleive the tiller will go down 6", but for my planting needs that's more than enough. I plant Clover, Rye,Winter wheat, and a few other goodies. I love my CK35.

 

[sweettractors]

Hello Everyone:

I have a CK35 and land in northern Minnesota. I have tried all the attachments you been discussing. I borrowed a 2 bottom plow from a friend and found that not to be practical because of all the tree roots, stumps etc. I ended up buying a sub-soiler (heavy duty) and mounted a 12" potato blade on it replacing the chisel. (Which I still use from-time-to-time) The sub-soiler works great for ripping up the roots, sod, old stumps etc. After cleaning up the roots etc. I go over it with a 60" JD tiller I purchase off of Craigslist. Over all the tiller works best for all rework applications, but when opening new ground start with a sub-soiler. I beleive the tiller will go down 6", but for my planting needs that's more than enough. I plant Clover, Rye,Winter wheat, and a few other goodies. I love my CK35.

A tool like this was designed for "New Ground" and lots of top growth. Plowing without clogging and also cuts the roots into short sections. $695. Ken Sweet

 

[tulenutn2o]

When I plow, I plow about 8-10 inches deep. Will a tiller work that deep? Ken Sweet

Why so deep?

 

[sweettractors]

Why so deep?

It helps to slow down the packing of the hard pan. In addition, by working the soil this deep, you will eventually have top soil that deep. That is a real good thing. Ken Sweet

 

[tulenutn2o]

It helps to slow down the packing of the hard pan. In addition, by working the soil this deep, you will eventually have top soil that deep. That is a real good thing. Ken Sweet

I guess it makes sense. But here in Iowa, the dirt is black as toby's (you know what). I only go that deep on first turn on virgin land to get the grasses turned under to decay. Got a 6' tiller now, so plow doesn't get used alot unless someone requests it.

 

[sweettractors]

I guess it makes sense. But here in Iowa, the dirt is black as toby's (you know what). I only go that deep on first turn on virgin land to get the grasses turned under to decay. Got a 6' tiller now, so plow doesn't get used alot unless someone requests it.

So, you are fine with topsoil, just watch compaction. That usually occurs deep in the soil (1ft-2 ft) Ken Sweet

 

[SandyTX]

I purchased a new 5 shank chisel plow 4ft for $459 from a local dealer. I can not recall the brand. After the purchase I went out and worked about 2 acres (which has not been plowed for about 3 years). Worked out great.

I then worked about a 20x60 spot at my house for bluebonnets. The chisel plow worked alot better than I expected. It ran about 4-6" deep when pulling in low range.

I'll go back this weekend and run over it with a disc. I'll also try to snap a few pictures of it and find the brand.

Only bad thing is that is is Red; but a little JD Green spray paint should fix it right up.

 

[tmbearden]

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