Sward Slitters
- Thread starter Graham.T
- Start date
Dave W
Member
- Location
- chesterfield
Save your money.
They don’t go deep enough to do any good
They don’t go deep enough to do any good
Disagree Dave.
They can do good work, in the right circumstances. Sheep poaching a perfect example.
Last edited:
- Location
- Acton Scott, South Shropshire
Sorry, have to disagree - they are designed to relieve compaction in top 3"-6" like when youve had sheep on the ground - if the compaction is any deeper then you need a sward lifter. The ground needs to be hard enough that the slitter creates radial fissures - if the ground is soft its a waste of time from a compaction point of view. In my opinion the Aerworx is the only one to be heavy enough to do it when the soil conditions are right and stay in one piece.
Agree.
- Location
- Near Colchester
I have had a slitter for years, Ok if things aren't too bad but I have just ordered a sward lifter for the worst bits, gateways and cow tracks etc.
DeeGee
Member
- Location
- North East Wales
Go and stand in the corner Dave W!!
You have been soundly condemned for your views.
As for me; I am yet to be convinced either way.
Have used our 3m Browns now and then, but not proven it either way.
What I do know is that if used in the spring and the weather turns dry then the land will definitely dry out faster than if not aerated.
So I won’t sell it, but I think it would need continued trials on a half field basis over a few years to really prove its worth.
Agree with you though Dave W, aerators are limited to an absolute maximum of 6” depth; for anything deeper you need a sward lifter.
Crucially they also lack the weight to penetrate drier land.
- Location
- Near Colchester
Yes I have a Browns 3m too, I made some concete weights to fit in the back, it needs them usually as when it is dry enough to drive on the field without making a mark it won't go in full depth and I can't do my whole farm that afternoon in April.
- Location
- Acton Scott, South Shropshire
See my comment above - tge right time to aerate is when the ground is dry/hard enough that the only machine that will do the job is the Aerworx
DeeGee
Member
- Location
- North East Wales
Why don’t you and I swap aerators for a few years then Ploughman?
That way we can compare results with no obligation whatsoever.
If the Browns is inferior then it is yours to keep FOC, gratis.
If the Aerworx is better then you save all the hassle of coming up to North Wales to collect it.
All ways, you win hands down all the way to the Sherman!
No time wasters, or tine kickers, be quick!
That way we can compare results with no obligation whatsoever.
If the Browns is inferior then it is yours to keep FOC, gratis.
If the Aerworx is better then you save all the hassle of coming up to North Wales to collect it.
All ways, you win hands down all the way to the Sherman!
No time wasters, or tine kickers, be quick!
- Location
- South West
ridger
Member
- Location
- Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Would need a sound tanker
kiwi pom
Member
- Location
- canterbury NZ
Its effectiveness would be fairly easy to prove, do half a field or every other run if you have autosteer and record the results throughout the season.
I'd imagine if they do increase profits - after all the extra costs of doing it are taken into account - there will be lots of trial results out there?
I'd imagine if they do increase profits - after all the extra costs of doing it are taken into account - there will be lots of trial results out there?
- Location
- Yorkshire
We had one on hire for the umbilical system,but the one we had was slightly different,the slurry was distributed through the center of the shaft holding the blades on. Gave a much better spread pattern than the dribble bar type distribution like in the picture above.
the biggest problem is that it’s a one trick pony,you literally need it once or twice a year,and for the amount of money they cost,it was an expensive yard ornament.
- Location
- Acton Scott, South Shropshire
No need - Ive tried a Browns and as Ive indicated they are not built strongly enough to take the weight you need to add to be able to get the blades in the ground when the conditions are right - the bearings on the axles arent up to it.
After a lot of research and taking advice from people who had years more experience than me and whom I trust, we bought an aerworx and it does the job of relieving compaction in the top layer when the ground is dry enough for it to do the job right without falling apart.
I am sorry if youve taken my sharing my personal experience and opinion with others on an open forum as a personal slight - it certainly wasnt intended as such. If ive misinterpreted your reply then I apologise for doing so.
- Location
- South shropshire
I’ve got one parked in the corner…… exactly the same … your trailed machine is the way I’m sure.
Opico?
- Location
- Near Colchester
Ceres, low impact grass subsoiler thing.
DeeGee
Member
- Location
- North East Wales
No problem it was all in jest! 