Which one? Tractor question. What's is better for tilling up rocky ground, a culti

[dirtpiranha]

Tractor question. What's is better for tilling up rocky ground, a cultivator with spring tines or a disc harrow?

 

[jeff9366]

If you include your location as part of your T-B-N PROFILE potential responders will know more about your conditions and can make more useful recommendations.

A spring-protected Field Cultivator will penetrate previously "broken" moderately rocky ground but it depends on HOW ROCKY. A Field Cultivator with points is as much a ripper as a cultivator. Big rocks can potentially break replaceable tine points.

Neither an S-tine nor C-tine Garden Cultivator are built for cultivating rocky soil.

Assuming 4-WD, a Kubota L3240 can pull a Disc Harrow with 18" diameter pans in tough soil. A Disc Harrow with 18" diameter pans can till previously broken ground to a depth of 6" to 7" with multiple passes of the tractor-harrow combination. A tractor-harrow combination requires some field headland space to reverse-turn for tractor newbies. Experienced tractor operators may turn fairly tightly using tractor brake on one side, plus steering. A Disc Harrow with 18" diameter pans does not have enough weight to open virgin ground.

Generally speaking, Disc Harrow pans roll over rocks but 18" diameter pans are relatively thin and not invulnerable to large, embedded rocks. Loose rocks, gravel, no problem.

For opening rocky ground a Disc Plow, which is NOT a Disc Harrow, is recommended.

If you only need to work an acre or less a $350 Middlebuster may suffice as an expedient.
VIDEO: middle buster plow - YouTube


Disc Plow | Turf Pride USA

TDP2 Series 2 & 3 Blade Disc Plows | Tufline


Till only moist soil.

PHOTO: Spring Protected Field Cultivator.

 

[Jack Yuan]

Tractor question. What's is better for tilling up rocky ground, a cultivator with spring tines or a disc harrow?

The answer depend on how rocky the ground is, normally heavy duty cultivator could work on some kind of rocky ground, but really depend on how rocky it is.