Cultivator / plough pan

[Overby]

A neighbour blasts his cultivator through everything and there's now standing water, like an ice rink, perfectly flat on top of plenty of his fields. My old man is convinced said neighbour is experiencing what he used to call the 'plough pan' ie skimming the same level year on year and now trapping water. Any thoughts?

It's a sight to behold mind on a frosty morn, almost a work of art.

 

[Farma Parma]

Subby needed when its dry then !!!
I never really change ploughing depth but do plough them diff angles or off a diff headland.
Always cultivate at an angle thru previous years sowing tho if its stubble cultivation.
7-8" deep, ploughing is 9"

 

[Sonoftheheir]

There’s a few fields like that about here, they don’t use subsoilers on their plough, 10-12” of fluffy stuff then solid.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Cant beat a double leg subsoiler ,drop it in to 18 inches and crack the land in all directions ,,no pan left if its done as soon possible after the combine clears of

 

[ollie989898]

Cant beat a double leg subsoiler ,drop it in to 18 inches and crack the land in all directions ,,no pan left if its done as soon possible after the combine clears of

Subsoiling only works properly when the land is dry to depth though and it cracks everything properly. In the wet it's just slots which achieves nothing.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Subsoiling only works properly when the land is dry to depth though and it cracks everything properly. In the wet it's just slots which achieves nothing.

We had a Jones twin leg with cousins points and big V wings ,,took enough pulling in the dry ,,only time it was used in the wet was straight after spuds ,then power harrowed and drilled

 

[nick...]

Have subsoiler deep in past when bone dry then rain runs round the lumps and not through them delaying further cultivations
nick...

 

[HarryB97]

That’s the same around here no matter what type of cultivations were done. The direct drilled fields are coping much better.

 

[tr250]

That’s the same around here no matter what type of cultivations were done. The direct drilled fields are coping much better.

In the interests of balance we are finding direct drilled is holding more water on the surface. And ploughed ground generaly has better crops on. Although I know I’ve done no lasting deep damage.

 

[redbaron]

Much of the surface ponding/pooling/shiny soil is caused by an impervious cultivation layer not a plough pan. Where I have recently pumped off the pools of water from wheat fields, digging down to 8-10 inches reveals soil that is merely slightly moist, and breakable. Regarding sub-soiling in dry conditions immediately post harvest (assumes a dry July/August) ...isn't that when the soil has deep natural cracks and has therefore "self sub soiled" naturally, and doesn't need further mechanical work. In fact machine sub-soiling can be the wrong thing to do.

 

[Overby]

Much of the surface ponding/pooling/shiny soil is caused by an impervious cultivation layer not a plough pan. Where I have recently pumped off the pools of water from wheat fields, digging down to 8-10 inches reveals soil that is merely slightly moist, and breakable. Regarding sub-soiling in dry conditions immediately post harvest (assumes a dry July/August) ...isn't that when the soil has deep natural cracks and has therefore "self sub soiled" naturally, and doesn't need further mechanical work. In fact machine sub-soiling can be the wrong thing to do.

So the cultivating is causing a pan of it's own essentially (the result of cultivation is too drainage resistant)?

 

[teslacoils]

So the cultivating is causing a pan of it's own essentially (the result of cultivation is too drainage resistant)?

Loose cultivated soil particles running together in heavy rain seals the surface. Even unrolled land has taken a proper beating with the quantity that has fallen.

 

[yellow belly]

Here on heavy land any field mole drained since 2018 is draining quickly
The 2017 moling is also fine

all no till and no subsoiling

 

[yellow belly]

Working any soil or drilling when it is not dry enough does no good in the long term
especially if it gets wetted the night after

having enough time in reserve is more profitable than just having enough kit
accountants never make good farming decisions
having enough kit plus a bit to spare is more efficient

 

[Brisel]

Here on heavy land any field mole drained since 2018 is draining quickly
The 2017 moling is also fine

all no till and no subsoiling

But well timed moling does have a subsoiling effect. Plastic at mole depth and drying afterwards to seal the walls means that you get some heave upwards and pan breaking by the leg.

 

[Midnight plough boy]

I’m worried at the amount of replies on this thread advocating going in with deep subsoiling when conditions allow. It would be much much cheaper to get a spade, have a dig and identify at what level the problem is in the soil profile, before burning diesel and metal at depth when the problem could be in the top two inches. With BPS due to be gone by 2027 recreational cultivations is one area which need addressing to keep finances on the right track.

 

[Overby]

I’m worried at the amount of replies on this thread advocating going in with deep subsoiling when conditions allow. It would be much much cheaper to get a spade, have a dig and identify at what level the problem is in the soil profile, before burning diesel and metal at depth when the problem could be in the top two inches. With BPS due to be gone by 2027 recreational cultivations is one area which need addressing to keep finances on the right track.

Recreational cultivation (and spraying) is a MAJOR issue round here (not at my gaff BTW)

 

[7610 super q]

Thread Hi-jack.......

What's a good cheap 1970's / 80's subsoiler suitable for peasants ? Bomford Superflow ?, or is that just a glorified cultivator ?

 

[Brisel]

Farmrite, Blench, Ransomes, Cooper

 

[DrWazzock]

Paraplow. The thinking mans subsoiler. Quick blast with ph to knock the tops off and straight in with unidrill.