aerator roller

[Johnny256]

Does the aerator roller do a good job on compacted soil?

 

[ploughman1963]

Yes. The drier the ground is the better as you get more lateral cracking. The theory goes that by the time the ground is dry enough to do a really good job, the lighter 3pt linkage machines cant carry enough weight to force the blades in (without bearings failing) - whereas the roller type can push the blades in even when the ground is very dry and you therefore get lots of fracturing. We have an Aerworx roller aerator and find it does a very good job.

 

[cowboysupper]

Yes. The drier the ground is the better as you get more lateral cracking. The theory goes that by the time the ground is dry enough to do a really good job, the lighter 3pt linkage machines cant carry enough weight to force the blades in (without bearings failing) - whereas the roller type can push the blades in even when the ground is very dry and you therefore get lots of fracturing. We have an Aerworx roller aerator and find it does a very good job.

In dry weather like we're getting at the minute, is there an argument that nature is providing natural aeration for us rather than having to use the aerator?

We had a horrendous spell of weather in February and I was wondering whether it would be worth hiring a roller aerator to get some air back in the soil but the ground is cracking that much now that maybe it's not worth it?

 

[DaveGrohl]

In dry weather like we're getting at the minute, is there an argument that nature is providing natural aeration for us rather than having to use the aerator?

We had a horrendous spell of weather in February and I was wondering whether it would be worth hiring a roller aerator to get some air back in the soil but the ground is cracking that much now that maybe it's not worth it?

Indeed. The only was to get an answer is do do some patches here and there and monitor.

 

[Johnny256]

Yes. The drier the ground is the better as you get more lateral cracking. The theory goes that by the time the ground is dry enough to do a really good job, the lighter 3pt linkage machines cant carry enough weight to force the blades in (without bearings failing) - whereas the roller type can push the blades in even when the ground is very dry and you therefore get lots of fracturing. We have an Aerworx roller aerator and find it does a very good job.

Ok great thanks? Would it do instead of rolling silage fields or does it bring up stones?

 

[ploughman1963]

Despite the extra weight, it will only really push stones in when the ground is still soft. The roller is really a medium for carrying the blades rather than acting as a flat roll as well - although, I am told that even using it in softer ground and the blades just leaving slots - as these slots dry, the sides crumble and are beneficial - sounds reasonable but I tend to stick to when the ground is drier.
Stones: depends on how stony your ground is and how fast you go - adjust your speed to suit and we dont have an issue. The mchines that do have a problem I belive are the rollers where the blades are arranged so they are in line with the axle (rather than all lining up in the direction of travel). These were developed for soils in the USA (I am told) and I have observed that type really 'spade' the ground andleave a lot of stones and turf divots on the surface.

 

[ploughman1963]

In dry weather like we're getting at the minute, is there an argument that nature is providing natural aeration for us rather than having to use the aerator?

We had a horrendous spell of weather in February and I was wondering whether it would be worth hiring a roller aerator to get some air back in the soil but the ground is cracking that much now that maybe it's not worth it?

My observation is that rather than large cracks in the soil, the blades create lots of minature cracks that radiate away from the slot and that if you dig a couple of weeks later, grass roots fill these fissures and can then head deeper - the machine is dealing with capping/compaction in the top 4" or so.

 

[HarryB97]

Depends how deep your compaction is

 

[ploughman1963]

Depends how deep your compaction is

completely agree - an aerator is only any good for compaction in the top 4"-5" - any deeper and I think it needs a grassland subsoiler.

 

[som farmer]

our soil will surface pan very easily in a prolonged wet spell, and we use an aerator, behind the cows, if needed, fantastic machine. Coming out of this wet winter, we have patches of dead grass, the grass has died off, because it's been waterlogged all winter, we dig our holes, to find out ! The heavy rain over the winter, has caused a surface pan, and a lot of rain has simply run off, instead of soaking in, a problem for later ? The relentless increase in heavy machinery, over the last 25 years, is causing serious damage to an already stressed soil structure, and I don't think we have appreciated, or thought to compensate for this. Soil structure, and fertility, is one of the biggest assets we have, and, going forward, we need to realise that.