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  • From: "David Inglis" <mhcsa AT verizon.net>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tractor for subsoiler/chisel plow
  • Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:17:13 -0400

Willie makes a good point. If you own the plow you don't have to do the
whole subsoiling job in one shot.
I pull a Keyline subsoiling plow with a 25HP Kubota. A Keyline is expensive
but allows me to use my cultivating tractor for everything because the draft
is less; 12 HP for the first shank and 8 each for the rest, I run three on a
5 foot permanent bed. Elsewhere on the list it has been pointed out that
often a bigger tractor is cheaper but I do intensive mechanical cultivation
so I need an offset belly mount cultivating tractor anyway, so I use it for
everything.
Also the Keyline should be used in plowing conditions so it pulls easier
than a normal subsoiler which should be used in dry conditions to 'maximize
shattering of the soil'.

I also use the Keyline for multiple other uses. Subsoiling, primary tillage,
[the only tillage unless the crop requires a fine seed bed] bed forming,
Stale bedding, garlic/ potato planting, ridging, one row weeding, root crop
loosening.
I have found that the effects of subsoiling, apart from breaking a plow pan
or iron layer, tend to be temporary unless done in conjunction with a fine
rooted soil building crop. If I subsoil a standing green manure of rye/vetch
it goes nuts, after a temporary setback. Remember you are opening up the
subsoil to make it available for growth.
My philosophy is to mechanically produce soil conditions that are conducive
to life which in turn develops the tilth we want for crops not to
mechanically produce that tilth. A subsoiler, especially a Keyline type, is
very useful for this but a lot depends on how you use it.
Dave

Dave Inglis
www.mahaiweharvest.com

Berkshire County,
Massachusetts

> -----Original Message-----
> From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-
> bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Willie McKemie
> Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:19 AM
> To: Market Farming
> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tractor for subsoiler/chisel plow
>
> On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 07:56:50PM -0700, Chris O'Brien wrote:
> > Willie: You mentioned that you used a 1-shank subsoiler for many years
with
> > a 25 horse tractor. How large of an area were you working up? Also, I
> > imagine that it depends upon soil type and conditions, but how close did
you
> > have to make successive passes to get good loosening action down deep?
>
> I've used the subsoiler on the 25hp tractor for several tasks:
> 1) Laying black plastic pipe; with some exhaust pipe attached to the
> plow. I've done thousands of feet of 1" pipe. I would make multiple
> passes over the route to get to the desired depth, then a final pass to
> lay pipe. Typically five or more passes. This was on poor and
> undisturbed soil.
> 2) Chiseling out peach tree rows preparatory to planting. Many
> thousands feet. This would be on good sandy soil with only patches of
> shallow clay. Still, several passes to get to full depth.
> 3) Chiseling out vegetable rows. This would be generally poorer
> (heavier) soil than that for peaches, but would be mostly freshly
> bulldozer root plowed. Several passes required. Great distances
> though, 5' row spacing in a total of maybe 50 acres.
>
> I don't attempt to subsoil the non-crop, wheel track areas. Only the
> centers of the crop rows. I don't subsoil every year but always do it
> the first time a field is prepared. Afterwards, maybe once every five
> years. Since I've acquired larger tractors, I rarely use the subsoiler
> on the 25hp. I do regularly use it on 35hp and 40hp Zetors as well as
> my "big" 50hp. Even with the larger tractors, I usually make two or
> more passes; there are always troublesome spots.
>
> --
> Willie, ONWARD! Through the fog!
> http://counter.li.org Linux registered user #228836 since 1995
> Debian3.1/GNU/Linux system uptime 590 days 22 hours 45 minutes
> _______________________________________________
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