Tiller -- acres per hour??

schole · Apr 12, 2005

How many acres per hour can one comfortably till with a 34 hp tractor and 5' or 6' tiller? Assume sod, loam or sandy soil without rocks, only one pass (I realize more than one pass would be necessary).

I have an L3400. I would like to turn over my garden and prepare for new ones -- I can see the tiller being great for this. Could I use it to till a 3 acre pasture? Or is this just too much....get some discs and a plow instead??

I realize this is related to the tiller/disc thread...I didn't want to change direction on it.

Thanks so much!!

Shawn

Indydirtfarmer · Apr 12, 2005

Several answers to several questions here.

1.) I use a 72" tiller behind a 60 HP tractor. With it's low gear groundspeed being ideal for a tiller, I can do about 1-1/4 acres an hour, tilling sod to a depth of about 6".

2.) Some conditions will allow you to complete the tilling in one pass. (Ideal soil moisture, no heavy sod, good soil)

3.) You can do as much area as you want. I've tilled as much as 20 acres before. (Pasture re-seed job)

4.) You are at the fine line with regards to HP/tiller size. Your ability to use a 72" tiller with that HP depends on what sort of low-gear speed you have. The slower the better.

5.) I still (moldboard) plow some pastures when renovating. I also chisel plow a few. Some get a disc taken to them, and others get a tiller. It depends on a long list of things. (Not least of which is what the customer wants)

grandad · Apr 12, 2005

Suggest you plan on investing a day in a project like you describe. It's not something you can predict is going to take 3.75 hours, give or take 10 minutes.

As a frame of reference, though, I tilled a 2 acre pasture with my 72" tiller for re-planting. Seem to recall it being about a 1/2 day job since it required 3 passes, going from hard-packed, weed-filled ground to a finely pulverized, seed-ready field.

How fast you can go will depend a lot on soil type and moisture. Sandy soil goes quicker; soggy or lumpy clay takes longer.

Alan L. · Apr 12, 2005

I tilled close to 3 acres in about 5 hours on Saturday with a 60" tiller. VERY heavy clay, hard as rock, with vegetation. Only 3" deep or so, one pass.

Given the conditions, I was happy with the speed of it. I have a disk and I have done a similar area. It took 3 passes and I still did not end up with the reults I got with the tiller.

I am planning to sell the disk, I can't imagine using it again since I have the tiller.

beenthere · Apr 12, 2005

Maybe figure you might go half as fast as you can walk, which would be about 1.5 miles an hour. Pick 1 mph and calculate that acreage, then do it for 2 mph. Figure you are then in the approximate range of your limits.

5' tiller would give you about 0.6 acres in an hour, and a 6' tiller would be 0.7 acres. That is assuming you will get a full width pass and not have any overlap. Double that for 2 mph and you can get an approximate idea.

If you find you can go faster, which maybe you can, then estimate how fast and recalculate.

KiotiJohn · Apr 13, 2005

( Maybe figure you might go half as fast as you can walk, which would be about 1.5 miles an hour. Pick 1 mph and calculate that acreage, then do it for 2 mph. )
Somewhere, in one my classes in college, it was stated that the average human walks at about 5 MPH.
I just got a 52" tiller today and only did a couple of small areas of established grassy soil. I think I could go full depth (almost 7") if I were to crawl along, but I tried different speeds and found that I would have to make at least two passes to get good depth at higher speed. After the first pass through the grass, I was able to go full HST pedal, low range/ on my CK20HST and it dug quite well. It's that first pass through thick sod that slows one down. I couldn't guess how long it would have taken to do an acre. I'll know that after a while though!
John

beenthere · Apr 13, 2005

KiotiJohn
I've always heard average walk was 3 mph (I know I am just a bit under that unless I push to walk fast), so was thinking half that fast was 1.5, and then calculating at either side of that (1 mph and 2 mph). But I don't have a problem with what others think is the average walking pace.

I did find a site: http://healthfullife.umdnj.edu/archives/METsTbl.htm )
that indicates 3 mph is a brisk pace, and that average is 2-2.5 mph. There are probably others that say different too.

Will be interested in your experience, which will be better than some math calculations. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KiotiJohn · Apr 13, 2005

( But I don't have a problem with what others think is the average walking pace. )
Here lately, I'd do well to make a mile in two hours!
If the water around here would clear up, I could go find out how long it takes to do an acre! Rained hard here last night adding to an already well soaked turf. Too wet to till.
It's also too wet to go hog two pastures down the street, and they're getting quite tall. I'm sure the owner is anxious to get them down to size so the place doesn't look so over grown.
good seat time to you guys, if you can get it.
John

Bird · Apr 13, 2005

( the average human walks at about 5 MPH )
( always heard average walk was 3 mph )

I agree with both of you. I always heard that "normal" walk speed was a range of 3 to 5 mph. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I've always walked fast and attribute that to trying to keep up with a long legged, long striding father when I was a kid. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif And my wife won't hardly walk anywhere with me; tells everyone there's no way she can keep up. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

JJT · Apr 13, 2005

3 acres of pasture renovation. I'm guessing 2 passes in an afternoon. The first pass will be slow, breaking new ground and I'm sure you will find a few stones. The second pass will be twice as fast and you'll get more depth. Definetely not too big of a job for your tractor and a 5 or 6 ft tiller as long as you have a hydro transnission. If not, get the smaller tiller. I've got a 40 horse and a 6' tiller, without HST I'd be hosed.