- Location
- Montgomeryshire
our soils are prone to panning, both below, and capping on top, we are trying not to plough, if possible, and we use aerator for capping. Ploughing, the physical action, of turning the soil over, kills off most of the worms, bugs and fungii, that help maintain, and improve soil structure. As a compromise, we are using 'deep tine cultivation, thus breaking any pan, with least physical disturbance, of the soil. So far, there seems little difference, crop wise, between the two, - plough, power harrow, 5/6 ins, or tine, power harrow, 3/4 ins, the second, is certainly cheaper ! The most important thing, is to get contact, between seed, and moisture, and we feel, the tine, retains more moisture than the plough, and a good rolling afterwards.
You started so well....
I use tines myself where I need to cultivate, but they do almost as much damage to the soil structure & biology, particularly if you still follow it up with a power harrow.