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Art Join Date: Posts: 1

2001-04-16          26782

I am looking for some opinions on the best way to work up an area that has been in grass (CRP) for about 14 years. I have run my disk over the area, but it is really only working up the top inch or two of soil. I need something to break through the sod, but don't really feel the need or desire to plow the whole area (about 2 acres.)What could I use to break up the sod layer a bit, so the disk could then be used to work the area? Would the scarifiers from a box blade do this? A single row middle buster or sub-soiler? (but wouldnt that take forever?)

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Plow or

Paul Fox Join Date: Posts: 1

2001-04-16          26784

Plowing is your best bet. If you don't have or can't borrow a plow, or your tractor isn't big enough to pull one (figure about 10 HP per 14" bottom in light-to-medium soil, more in heavy sod) you have two options: 1. Hire it done by a local farmer, if/when he can work it in, or 2. Get in touch with an antique tractor club. We LOVE to have a place to hold a "plow day" and run our old gear. They'd likely do it for free. With no till or minimum till being the mainstream of agriculture today, nobody plows much anymore, and a lot of folks will jump at the chance. After plowing, run over it a couple of times with a disk harrow and a puliverizer (aka cultipacker) and you're ready to go. ....

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Plow or

Paul Fox Join Date: Posts: 1

2001-04-16          26786

PS....my horsepower figures are for a full-size tractor properly weighted. My 20 horse JD750 compact wouldn't pull 2-14's through butter, not enough weight to put the power on the ground. ....

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David W. Walker Join Date: Posts: 1

2001-04-17          26805

Art, you really do want to plow it. The plow can turn that soil upside down, smothering and killing many of the weeds. Then, the disc can cut up that sod for ya. I just plowed about 2 acres, it took about 8 hours with a single bottom .. but I really think it's worth it. ....

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TomG Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley

2001-04-18          26840

I'm going to make several medium-sized garden plots soon. I plan to remove the sod with a 6' box scraper. Use the scarifiers to cut the sod and the box to pick up and work the pieces of sod. Dragging sod in the box will work off some of the soil. I've done this before, so I know that it's a bit slow going with my 24HP and turf tires, and the sod is light and the soil sandy. Even with ballast, I have to take fairly small bites or the traction breaks until I get the sod cut. I use the box scraper, because it's what I have. There are better alternatives mentioned. Taking up 2-acres of sod with a box might take a little time. ....

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John Miller, III Join Date: Posts: 1

2001-04-18          26844

Rule of thumb... you'll need 15 - 20 DRAWBAR H.P. {Not PTO or Gross Engine HP} per moldboard plow and of course proper tractor ballast. ....

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Plow or

Art White Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York   Pics

2001-04-21          27048

David you are right the moldboard plow will help loosen the sod to make it more manageable. The thought of the weeds is not important as weed seeds often are good for 100 years in the ground and if they are there they will resurface. The tiller will with the often heavy soil types we have in central NY work far better than a disc harrow as the disc harrow for a compact tractor doesn't have the weight needed to penetrate. There is much ground that has more sand and less clay that the disc harrow for a compact might be able to loosen enough to give a good seed bed. When working the ground for a seedbed it is important to remember that soil to seed coontact is a must for germination. The idea to maybe to use a sprayer to stop certain types of weeds also means you need a fine seed bed to eliminate clumps which would not get the spray and make for a poor spray job when it actually means a poor tillage job. Just a little different side to look at. ....

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