Slitters / Aerators

[exmoor dave]

It sounds like people generally prefer the roller type to the spike type? If so should the slots be in line or across?

I've seen videos of the roller type with the spikes across the roller (so they look like paddles) being used to reclaim ground by running the thing over the scrub, the paddles cutting the plants!

I've often thought it would be a great idea on the moor to use on a patch prior to burning to get a really good burn

Alot of ££££ for that type though!

 

[GTB]

I've seen videos of the roller type with the spikes across the roller (so they look like paddles) being used to reclaim ground by running the thing over the scrub, the paddles cutting the plants!

I've often thought it would be a great idea on the moor to use on a patch prior to burning to get a really good burn

Alot of ££££ for that type though!

I was sort of thinking along the same lines. The cross ways slitters would cut any rushes or gorse and it might even save a bit of topping? I think the plan here is to mount one on front linkage and have some sort of direct drill or tine seeder on rear and try to do a decent job in one pass.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Yeah, I like the direction this is going, much similar to the crimper rollers they use to terminate cover crops.. even a corn drill might work on the back?

 

[ploughman1963]

It sounds like people generally prefer the roller type to the spike type? If so should the slots be in line or across?

I was told the type with blades across the roller rather than inline were designed for the lighter type soils found in USA and aren’t that good in our soils - as in if you travel at any speed it acts as a spader and digs lumps out - as far as I can see we are trying to create cracks in the soil profile not dig divets.

 

[holywell farmer]

View attachment 636054
Have used this the last couple of years and really like it. You can adjust the depth and aggressiveness of the aerating blades. The scratching boards and tines can be adjusted for aggressiveness as well. Think of getting the 6 meter with a seeder next. Definitely worth getting a demo

Looks handy machine

 

[BDBed]

Looks handy machine

It's a tool for all really. It is incredibley effective at ripping out dead grass and moss with the scratching boards. The advantage of the blades being spring loaded is that they don't flick up stones and soil, you would be surprised how deep you can get the blades. It does take a bit of pulling. But with a seeder on it, a lot of people wouldn't need anything else. Price is the down side imo.

 

[JD-Kid]

have ripped ground made a huge diffrence have not used a slitter tho looked at them not fully sold tho
the big drum spader looking machines i can see acting like a spader in some soils

as for drilling i did see some one with a slitter on front and DD on back somewere can't recall and a few guys doing Vertical tillage pre drilling thats worth thinking about

 

[JD-Kid]

https://www.grainews.ca/2014/12/08/vertical-seeding/
https://blog.grainews.ca/vertical-tillage-becomes-vertical-seeding/

 

[hillman]

@Kiwi Pete

@JD-Kid like the idea of the wavey discs cultivating and sowing in the one pass , set in pathway of aerway slots for say putting in catch crops or herbs

 

[JD-Kid]

http://www.hoopersengineering.com/catalogue/crocodile-seeder-0
HAHAHA what about one of those @hillman

 

[JD-Kid]

could use a drum seeder on a ripper

 

[hillman]

Jaysus @JD-Kid your going full throttle destruction, can't say you won't get air into the soil

 

[davieogrutha]

Converted my roller a couple year ago. The box is a spinner to dispense grass seed. Needed something cheep and cheerful after a seriously wet year which caused a lot of poaching. Been meaning to add some spring tynes to help scratch in the seed. Worked pretty good.

 

[ollie989898]

I have to say the jury it out for me. I know people who swear by them, and use them once or even twice a year, spring/autumn. I never like to encourage livestock farmers to spend money on metal but I would say pay a contractor to do some for a couple of years and see what you think. It's quite a quick old job with the right tools. It's the sort of machine a farmer might buy and share with a few neighbours. I hate to be the one to try and stop folk spending thousands of metal they can park in the rain but I do think in a lot of cases a few thousand extra spent on reseeding would potentially be more useful.

Also, although that all looks effective, if you go hooning big chunks of turf about and leaving bare soil the first thing to grow there will be weeds or weed grasses.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I do share your opinion there Ollie.
I think it does come down to the individual farm and farmer to a degree; I tried cultivating with mine and the turf was just too much for it, even with a couple of passes.. but, go into worked ground and it does a smashing job of getting air in, takes much less pulling than say a grubber of the same width.
By seeding with mine and contracting, it's paid for itself over 20 months, and I really wouldnt be without it now I've got a few things sussed out.
Main thing I like is how little it disturbs at the surface compared to at depth, and even on short cover the grass doesnt burn off like it does with the subsoiler if you need to use it in the springtime.

Some of the crops I drilled this year- even the airseeded fodderbeet looks good!

 

[JD-Kid]

I have to say the jury it out for me. I know people who swear by them, and use them once or even twice a year, spring/autumn. I never like to encourage livestock farmers to spend money on metal but I would say pay a contractor to do some for a couple of years and see what you think. It's quite a quick old job with the right tools. It's the sort of machine a farmer might buy and share with a few neighbours. I hate to be the one to try and stop folk spending thousands of metal they can park in the rain but I do think in a lot of cases a few thousand extra spent on reseeding would potentially be more useful.

Also, although that all looks effective, if you go hooning big chunks of turf about and leaving bare soil the first thing to grow there will be weeds or weed grasses.

i would say do 1/2 a paddock and watch the animals it may not show up in extra dm as may be too hard to spot by eye but happy animals are good animals
a reseed at times will bring greater returns but make sure useing top grasses that are proven to give good returns on investment

 

[JD-Kid]

Jaysus @JD-Kid your going full throttle destruction, can't say you won't get air into the soil

tends to dry out a bit with the wide shank but seems to work ok and lets be real what boy dose not love a dozer
PS not my dozer only have a wee D4H cat

 

[hillman]

I do share your opinion there Ollie.
I think it does come down to the individual farm and farmer to a degree; I tried cultivating with mine and the turf was just too much for it, even with a couple of passes.. but, go into worked ground and it does a smashing job of getting air in, takes much less pulling than say a grubber of the same width.
By seeding with mine and contracting, it's paid for itself over 20 months, and I really wouldnt be without it now I've got a few things sussed out.
Main thing I like is how little it disturbs at the surface compared to at depth, and even on short cover the grass doesnt burn off like it does with the subsoiler if you need to use it in the springtime.View attachment 636898
Some of the crops I drilled this year- even the airseeded fodderbeet looks good!

What was your method of establishing the crops ?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

What was your method of establishing the crops ?

All sown with my aerator, after lots of beating up horses heads with a rotospike

 

[wdah/him]

Better off putting a few herbs in your leys.
Just sold ours, been in the nettles for the past 5 yesrs since we got herbsl leys, lucerne, and red clover leys established.

was thinking of similar the other day, I have ground sealed by sheep in wet years and it only has a few inches of soil before rock/mud, is there anything I could stitch in that would open this up, I will be stitching grasseeed in this year hopefully but woundrering if there is anything else that would help the top compaction