Disc Harrow Newbie Question

[Spike56]

I would like to have some attachment to break up the top hard pan soil. What I am imagining (but, I do not know if something like this exists) is a set of knives / chisels ? I sold my 5 shank renovator some years ago. It was difficult to use for me (55 hp), the moisture level had to be perfect. Even then, it would raise clumps of clay in my hayfield.

So, is there something akin to the renovator, but instead of a large "foot" on the bottom, just a set of knives ? Just want to get down 6" and cut slits so IF IT EVER RAINS HERE, the water would be able to soak in better ?

:confused2:

 

[K5lwq]

The tool you need is a subsoiler. You can get a single shank that goes about 18". The the next pass have your tires on the furrow you just made. Works real well for what you are needing.

CountyLine Subsoiler, SUB at Tractor Supply Co.

 

[Rebeldad1]

sounds like a box blade would work. 6-8 teeth depending on size. could drop 1 or all down 6" and get your grooves
<img src="https://media.tractorsupply.com/is/image/TractorSupplyCompany/2131653?$456$" alt="CountyLine Box Blade, 6 ft. at Tractor Supply Co."/>

 

[jeff9366]

You are in Texas where Miller-Hay King pasture renovators are manufactured. Perhaps a three shank or four shank model will work behind your tractor.

LINK: http://hayking.com/var/m_3/3e/3e5/50010/556824-Renovator_Literature.pdf?download


Pasture renovators are meant to be pulled through slightly dry soil so slits remain for water and fertilizer to penetrate.

Pulled through wet soil the slits close up.



How many acres do you want to work?

How deep do you want to penetrate?

 

[CoyPatton]

sounds like a box blade would work. 6-8 teeth depending on size. could drop 1 or all down 6" and get your grooves
<img src="https://media.tractorsupply.com/is/image/TractorSupplyCompany/2131653?$456$" alt="CountyLine Box Blade, 6 ft. at Tractor Supply Co."/>

Only concern with a box blade would be his achieving the 6 inches of depth that he wants.
You can gain a bit more depth with the BB scarifiers by going to the shortest length of your top link with the scarifiers set to their greatest depth.
At a 60HP+ tractor, you should be able to find an implement that should cut multiple channels in one pass. You are well beyond the size of my tractor so not sure what those might be. My other experience area is much larger commercial farming equipment. And you want to go much deeper than equipment in that arena other fully turning the ground, which is not usually desired in hay operations.

 

[oosik]

I pull a six shank scarifier. Depending upon soil conditions - I pull two, four or all six. Breaks the top soil very nicely.

 

[Spike56]

Thanks all for the replies. I have considered the subsoiler, but was hoping to find something with multiple shanks. I had a hay king renovator previously - probably should have kept / used that and went shallower ? The problem was the foot would pull up big chunks of clay if the soil conditions were right ... wrong. I had a lot of trouble with tearing up the hay patch - was a mess.

Being a newbie, I had to look up a scarifier. Best I can tell that is called a "ripper" ? It looks similar to my renovator without the coulters ? Would a ripper tear thing up too much ?

I wondered if just running coulters might work ? Anyone know ?

 

[jeff9366]

I would like to have some attachment to break up the top hard pan soil.

Is there something akin to the renovator, but instead of a large "foot" on the bottom, just a set of knives ? Just want to get down 6" and cut slits so IF IT EVER RAINS HERE, the water would be able to soak in better ?

I have a coil-spring protected Dirt Dog (brand) All Purpose Plow. It is pretty much your concept. The APP, while robust enough to pull through Bahia Pasture Grass growing in sandy-loam soil in Florida, may be too delicate for clay in Texas.
I only pull it through Bahia pasture when the soil moisture is ample but I go at least 10" deep.

Review + pictures here: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=



Buckeye Tractor in Ohio makes Chisel Plows for 55-horsepower tractors.

Buckeye Tractor Online Catalog Page 18-01 Chisel Plows

 

[Spike56]

You are in Texas where Miller-Hay King pasture renovators are manufactured. Perhaps a three shank or four shank model will work behind your tractor.

LINK: http://hayking.com/var/m_3/3e/3e5/50010/556824-Renovator_Literature.pdf?download


Pasture renovators are meant to be pulled through slightly dry soil so slits remain for water and fertilizer to penetrate.

Pulled through wet soil the slits close up.



How many acres do you want to work?

How deep do you want to penetrate?

Ideally, I would want to work 7.5 acres (my hay field). IF I find something acceptable, I would also use in the pastures in places. One issue I had was when the soil "looked right" to renovate, the top was okay, but the deeper clay was gummy and got pulled up on top in chunks. That's why I was wondering if instead of the "foot" on the bottom of the shank maybe a straight bar could be used ?

 

[Spike56]

Again thanks to all. I have some good ideas. Jeff9366 : I have a friend nearby that has a coil spring plow. Will not work very well around here unless you disc first. The soil is .... good soil to make bricks... have considered building a pyramid. The subsoiler is a possibility although I think I would have the same issues as with the renovator, and of course, this is a single row.

My dumb idea was something like a renovator, but instead of the renovator shanks, a straight bar with angled (sharp) front... ? Guess there is no such thing.

 

[jeff9366]

Miller Hay King is considered a top end renovator by many. Hay King is made in Texas and you are in Texas. I suggest you call Miller Hay King and discuss your conditions. Surely Miller Hay King has dealt with Texas soil similar to yours.

 

[Spike56]

Thanks Jeff,

May try to contact them again. I did in the past, but all they recommended at that time was a renovator. So, I did get one. Perhaps, there is a different solution now - or I speak to a different person.

 

[K5lwq]

Most people around here use the Subsoiler. They make bigger ones that have more shanks.

 

[3Lfarms]

I found an old Ford subsoiler and it does a great job breaking up my hard clay to keep water from standing all winter to having no standing water after a hard rain.

It will go down about 22” and at that depth, it’s about all my 68hp tractor wants. When I hit a root, it will shear a 1/2” grade 8 bolt in two places like it was it’s job.


It has a vertical straight blade on it, so it takes more power to pull than the modern ones you find with big curved blades/points.

 

[CoyPatton]

A subsoiler because of it narrow blade at the point does not usually bring up but clots of clay. I have only used a single shank subsoiler. I have lived in areas with clays most of my life. Clays have terrible drainage! The subsoiler does work just slow.
What you describe wanting sounds like a chisel plow or even a cultivator without the replaceable plows on the ends.
1) I question if the ends would be hard enough to stand up to clay
2) would it go deep enough to do what you are wanting
3) would the spring loaded arms be closer together than you want to run in your hay

You might find a fabricator (someone who enjoys building the odd ball items even) and describe what you want and see what he may come up with. If he is fairly local to you, he should be familiar with your clay.
I have lived in areas with a red clay heavy with rocks. And was raised around a bluish gray clay regionally called ‘gumbo’—another good candidate for making bricks—it bakes as hard as about anything around, but a bit of water on it and it is as slick as anything, soaked with water and it sucks the lights of objects into it.

 

[Spike56]

A subsoiler because of it narrow blade at the point does not usually bring up but clots of clay. I have only used a single shank subsoiler. I have lived in areas with clays most of my life. Clays have terrible drainage! The subsoiler does work just slow.
What you describe wanting sounds like a chisel plow or even a cultivator without the replaceable plows on the ends.
1) I question if the ends would be hard enough to stand up to clay
2) would it go deep enough to do what you are wanting
3) would the spring loaded arms be closer together than you want to run in your hay

You might find a fabricator (someone who enjoys building the odd ball items even) and describe what you want and see what he may come up with. If he is fairly local to you, he should be familiar with your clay.
I have lived in areas with a red clay heavy with rocks. And was raised around a bluish gray clay regionally called ‘gumbo’—another good candidate for making bricks—it bakes as hard as about anything around, but a bit of water on it and it is as slick as anything, soaked with water and it sucks the lights of objects into it.

Coy,
Thanks. What ( I KNOW) to be called a chisel plow/ cultivator (sorry, not a farm boy) has the arching/ curved metal... no good here. Will do more damage than help - IF I can get it to stay in the ground ! I think I will have to go with a single subsoiler, as you have. One the plus side, it would be easier to hook on my tractor I think and fairly cheap ? Do you recommend a certain subsoiler model / make ?
Our clay sounds about the same. I have considered selling all cattle and building a brick manufacturing plant.

 

[CoyPatton]

Coy,
Thanks. What ( I KNOW) to be called a chisel plow/ cultivator (sorry, not a farm boy) has the arching/ curved metal... no good here. Will do more damage than help - IF I can get it to stay in the ground ! I think I will have to go with a single subsoiler, as you have. One the plus side, it would be easier to hook on my tractor I think and fairly cheap ? Do you recommend a certain subsoiler model / make ?
Our clay sounds about the same. I have considered selling all cattle and building a brick manufacturing plant.

I am not a brand type person. So no preference. Just be sure to get one build for the HP of your tractor. Undersized and your are likely to damage to subsoiler, oversized and you may have issues with not being able to pull it through your clay.
And I tend to agree that the chisel plow might do more crop damage than helping to drain water away.
One benefit to the subsoiler is that with the small footprint of the cutting blade and smaller yet width of the shank, you can drive over the cut with little effect on the deep cut for drainage.