Alstrong aerator v Grassland subsoiler

[Maxxum-man]

Is there any advantage to using a grassland subsoiler over one of these aerator rollers like the alstrong/aerworx when only dealing with compacted shallow soils on top of clay? Both the aerworx and alstrong unit claim to deal with compaction down to 6-7 inches, any further than that here and your into clay so maybe no need to use a grassland subsoiler? Anybody tried both?

 

[Maxxum-man]

@boyo

 

[boyo]

I've had both but only have the roller now as most of our compaction was from poaching the surface. Both Machines so good jobs but very different. I didn't use the erth panbuster as much as I thought I would hence we sold it.

 

[Maxxum-man]

Thanks boyo, seems like the roller may have a wider window of time when it's useable compared to the subsoiler, especially with the amount of acres that can be covered in a quick time

 

[Maxxum-man]

Got an alstrong here on hire, seems to do a good job but can only see it being any use when it's as dry as it is now if it was wet it would be causing a problem rather than solving one, had a dig yesterday after it had been working and i think the soil was a bit more fractured than the ground which wasn't done

 

[capfits]

You will notice it more when you get heavy rain, ie25 mm in 12 hrs. On what we have done here it seems to percolate away with less pooling.
Conditions for doing it are everything.
How much to hire for a day?

 

[Digester Man]

I hired two different roller aerators (Alstrong and another) and was not convinced. The headlands took a hammering because there was so much turning at each end. I did about 60 acres in good conditions in the autumn and can't see any difference whatsoever now in the spring

I have also hired two different grassland subsoilers and would rate them much better. Our compaction is also in the top layer, it is possible to set these machines at a depth that suits, they don't need to be buried in to the balls. Land that was subsoiled in the autumn was dark green in March, the bit that wasn't was pale green. Inspection with a spade revealed improved air penetration and less horizontal layers in the soil that was done with the panbuster.

My money would be on a panbuster

 

[Maxxum-man]

I hired two different roller aerators (Alstrong and another) and was not convinced. The headlands took a hammering because there was so much turning at each end. I did about 60 acres in good conditions in the autumn and can't see any difference whatsoever now in the spring

I have also hired two different grassland subsoilers and would rate them much better. Our compaction is also in the top layer, it is possible to set these machines at a depth that suits, they don't need to be buried in to the balls. Land that was subsoiled in the autumn was dark green in March, the bit that wasn't was pale green. Inspection with a spade revealed improved air penetration and less horizontal layers in the soil that was done with the panbuster.

My money would be on a panbuster

Yes I think this confirmed my thoughts, our topsoil is just so dense it definitely needs a lift rather than anymore weight, I will try and get a demo of sumo/erth machine and see how tidy of a job it will make

 

[Henarar]

what about a non roller type spiker/slitter

 

[sleepy]

Most people seem to buy one of the aerator things (normally with a grant), do their whole farm with it the first year, realise it does feck all, leave it in the nettles for a few years and then sell it quietly for a pittance a few years later.

 

[BSH]

ime the answer depends on how deep your cmpaction lies/what is your regular problem. If it is livestock causing compaction a slitter will do the job. If it is machinery causing teh problem you need a subsoiler. In general subsoilers have a wider window of work and can handle all compaction scenarios and a re cheaper to run. That has to be ballanced against purchase cost. I was a big fan of grassland subsoiling until I went to mob grazing which negated the need for subsoiling. Conclusion: Dont create compaction. If you do is it machine or livestock caused? Buy the relevant machine according to epth of compaction.

 

[Barleycorn]

Get some deep rooting herbs such as chicory or plantain in your mixtures, cheaper than steel and diesel!

 

[capfits]

Most people seem to buy one of the aerator things (normally with a grant), do their whole farm with it the first year, realise it does feck all, leave it in the nettles for a few years and then sell it quietly for a pittance a few years later.

Where do you get this grant? In our own circumstances we using these because frankly after a succession of wet summers since 2010 the issue of sub surface compaction due to stock was and is causing other problems. Prior to 2010 we did not have a fluke issue either. Will use Alstrong when appropriate and required, I ain't into sitting on a tractor anymore than required.
These machines are horses for courses the erth machine leaves a better surface than opico but ain't good enough in our situation due to lifting of stones. Slitter absolute waste of time , as with ain't achieving any deeper fracturing. On stoneless clay I would buy an erth.
Cost of machine yep less than 1 acre of ground.......

Get some deep rooting herbs such as chicory or plantain in your mixtures, cheaper than steel and diesel!

This is also an issue, the fields with more cocksfoot do not tend to have same issues as more ryegrass, where the root mat is barely going 2-3 inches in compacted areas. Perhaps our grazing systems cannot adapt enough to wet grazing periods.