[Market-farming] Tractor for subsoiler/chisel plow

Wyatt Jones wyatt_jones at netzero.com
Sun Jul 26 12:28:02 EDT 2009


I use a 5 shank Chisel plow and have a 60hp 4wd tractor, it pulls fine as long as the soil is dry enough.  I also have very heavy clay soil, very fertile though, which is why I use it.  I could probably get away without it as I have a power harrow which tills 11 inches, but it helps drainage to go down the full 18 inches, and many clay soils, I have Brookston, Celina and Crosby Soils, tend to pond for a couple of days after a hard rain even with a good drainage system. It also requires a better septic system but that's another issue.  I wouldn't recommend a tractor much smaller than mine for a 5 shank, bigger would be better but the 60hp range was about as big as I wanted to go for other applications,  Hp is an issue but traction is the biggest problem.  I've seen 3 shank plows and I would imagine a 35-40HP 4wd would pull those if you can get enough traction.   You might get by with a smaller one but it would be hard on it if it worked at all.  The rule of thumb I've heard as a minimum is 10HP per shank but I'd go at least 10% higher, preferably 20%,  if you have particularly heavy soil and I would think that would apply even more with smaller tractors.  I'd also recommend putting some weight on the tractor, calcium inside the tires is the cheapest route, I think it was about $300 including labor for 1500 lbs.  I was able to pull the plow without it but once in a while the tires would slip when I hit tougher soils or big rocks.  Of course its slower getting up to speed on the road because of the calcium but its not a racecar LOL.  I went through this last year and tried to get a 5 shank with coulters but couldn't find one so I got one without, if you can find one you might get by with a somewhat smaller tractor.  The coulters would make it pull a little better and help break up the chunks, but it will cost more.  Personally I think they are worth the expense but it wasn't an available option.



IF I could put my woods in song 
And tell what's there enjoyed, 
All men would to my gardens throng, 
And leave the cities void. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson
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