Is it worth subsoiling in these dry conditions?

[Mr Charisma]

Does that tell you something?

Yup , to be patient ,,,,,watched a neighbour try to subsoil his tramlines on fri night with 280 hp on a 2 leg subsoiler and having to only do one wheeling at a time ,,,,, so 2 runs per tramline ,,,,, went and had a natter and try and find out why he was trying to rip out the back end of his magnum ,,,,,, tramlines need lifting was his reply ,,,,, they were level and not rutted and had a bloody great big crack down each wheeling , my impression was that nature had done it's work and that he was just bored ,,,,, he rolled out some impressive big ol lumps out tho

 

[ajd132]

Shouldn't be causing loads of compaction in the first place.

 

[Steevo]

Can't remember as good a year as this for subsoiling. We're filling our boots. Cracking is vertical only. You're deluded if you think that alone will improve men's ground compaction.

Is cracking vertical only? As above....nature tends to sort most things one way or another without our help.

I'm confused as anyone.

 

[DaveGrohl]

As above....nature tends to sort most things one way or another without our help.

Does it?

 

[SilliamWhale]

Does it?

We can design our production systems so nature assists us

 

[neilo]

We can design our production systems so nature assists us

I agree, but then along comes a wet year when it just doesn't stop raining, apart from when it snows, and Winter Barley would do sweet FA without getting early N on somehow.

Do you cause a bit of compaction, and have to spend to remedy it later, or spend on a hovercraft with a fert spinner attached in order to get on in good time?

 

[SilliamWhale]

I agree, but then along comes a wet year when it just doesn't stop raining, apart from when it snows, and Winter Barley would do sweet FA without getting early N on somehow.

Do you cause a bit of compaction, and have to spend to remedy it later, or spend on a hovercraft with a fert spinner attached in order to get on in good time?

Up to you. I tend to keep to the same tramlines or shift them 30-40cm and keep something growing in them so they don't get rutted so bad. The subsoiled tramlines are more likely to sink again with the structure being ruined for that's what subsoiling does. Never say never of course as I do a little bit of it but you will always get a slump after subsoiling.

If its really wet I tend not to go in the field

 

[ajd132]

Up to you. I tend to keep to the same tramlines or shift them 30-40cm and keep something growing in them so they don't get rutted so bad. The subsoiled tramlines are more likely to sink again with the structure being ruined for that's what subsoiling does. Never say never of course as I do a little bit of it but you will always get a slump after subsoiling.

If its really wet I tend not to go in the field

Every time I have subsoiled in my albeit short farming career it has just slumped horrendously over the winter. I'd rather rip compacted headlands with a top down type thing as these low disturbance subsoilers im finding quite pointless.

 

[neilo]

Up to you. I tend to keep to the same tramlines or shift them 30-40cm and keep something growing in them so they don't get rutted so bad. The subsoiled tramlines are more likely to sink again with the structure being ruined for that's what subsoiling does. Never say never of course as I do a little bit of it but you will always get a slump after subsoiling.

If its really wet I tend not to go in the field

Tbh I would probably have left them if those fields had been staying in cereals with tramlines in the same place, but one's going to be split in half to grow beet, and another going into 'unsprayed roots' for Glastir, so I doubt any wheelings will be in the same place next year.
I'm was more concerned about shattering the patches that sat under water for several months, despite new drains being directly under some of those patches. Hopefully, careful management/keeping something growing on those areas, will stop it becoming a problem again, but remedial action of some kind was certainly warranted now. No good expecting plant roots to do the work if you can't get anything to grow there in the first place.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Every time I have subsoiled in my albeit short farming career it has just slumped horrendously over the winter. I'd rather rip compacted headlands with a top down type thing as these low disturbance subsoilers im finding quite pointless.

The only tool I will use is a GLS and that is pretty much to tidy up muck heap ground. I have actually once or twice used my old howard rotorvator to fill in a few divots etc but I need to try and keep off it as much as possible after to allow a structure to build up

 

[SilliamWhale]

Tbh I would probably have left them if those fields had been staying in cereals with tramlines in the same place, but one's going to be split in half to grow beet, and another going into 'unsprayed roots' for Glastir, so I doubt any wheelings will be in the same place next year.
I'm was more concerned about shattering the patches that sat under water for several months, despite new drains being directly under some of those patches. Hopefully, careful management/keeping something growing on those areas, will stop it becoming a problem again, but remedial action of some kind was certainly warranted now. No good expecting plant roots to do the work if you can't get anything to grow there in the first place.

How do you know the bits really shattered?

 

[neilo]

How do you know the bits really shattered?

By inspecting it before, during and after the work.

I’d agree with keeping off it afterwards, and getting some roots going through it to stabilise. I’m too poor to afford a GLS, but used my Browns Swardlifter to do the job without heaving any lumps onto the surface.

 

[Steevo]

Does it?

If we leave well alone, nature conquers all just how it likes. Hence weeds, trees etc. develop on land left alone.

The right weeds grow in the right places etc. and natural selection works.

 

[mikep]

If in doubt I think you should be subsoiling right now so that when conditions come right you can spend lots of time working down the boulders and make sure it's compacted properly for next year.

 

[hally]

Sadly around here windows for these jobs in the last few years are very rare, my panbuster never left the shed last year. However our youngster has been it the last few days and looks to be doing a good job only time will tell. Going to move onto some hill ground soon and aim to do a few half fields to evaluate if we are

actually doing any good.

 

[Brisel]

The use of a spade will tell you if you need to do any at all

 

[hally]

It certainly needs doing going by the drainage we have been doing lately but is it cost effective on poor upland clay?

 

[franklin]

It's just another crop input for me. Very few years where some deep work doesn't pay for itself here several times over.

 

[hally]

Sadly around here windows for these jobs in the last few years are very rare, my panbuster never left the shed last year. However our youngster has been it the last few days and looks to be doing a good job only time will tell. Going to move onto some hill ground soon and aim to do a few half fields to evaluate if we are

actually doing any good.

Just noticed he photoed the only few docks on the farm..........honest!!

 

[wuddy]

Perfect conditions for subsoiling here. Land we have just taken on plough pan at 8” and last years stubble still there!