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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Chisel or Molbord plow?

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Kelly/MT

09-27-2003 22:39:14




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Going to work up some old hay fields soon. Which tool will do the best job?

With a chisel plow would you make more than one pass? Different directions? Thanks for any help, PK.




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JMS/MN

09-29-2003 09:29:48




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
A moldboard plow is intended to turn over most of the soil in one pass. A chisel plow with straight shanks does about 1/3 of the job, with twisted shovels does considerably more. With alfalfa, either machine will allow some growth the following spring- the chisel plow allows more, but a second or third pass will minimize regrowth. Oftentimes, chisel once in the fall, once in the spring, work it down with a field cultivator or disc, and plant. You can't plant behind a chisel or moldboard, without further tillage. Plowing/chisel is primary tillage, FC or disc is secondary tillage, before planting. If you can justify only one machine in your farm plan, it doesn't much matter which one, unless you have very light soil, then the chisel is a better alternative.

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Don-WI

09-28-2003 19:32:47




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
As others have said, the chisel won't touch the alfalfa. We rented a chisel plow last year and did 2 hay feilds, planted corn this year. They worked over all right this spring, wasn't a thing visible through the ground, but then the alfalfa came back and beat out most of the corn before we got it sprayed. once we sprayed and cultivated, the corn managed to grow a little, but then this fall while harvesting, I noticed the alfalfa didn't even get killed by the spray, just knocked back a little. Gonna use the moldboard again this year, and it'll be fine next year.
Donovan from Wisconsin

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Hugh MacKay

09-28-2003 18:13:06




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
Kelly: If land is now in alfalfa rotation is the only way to go. From a economic stand point you need a crop that can utilize that fixed nitrogen. You must kill the old alfalfa, something that will not happen over winter no matter which plow you use. Wheat or corn with the straw or stover plowed under will improve your organic matter and next stand of alfalfa.

From the plow point of view they both have their place. I never had a lot to do with a chisel plow. I do however hear guys around here who have been using them a lot, starting to complain. They are saying it is making soil surface quite rough. Causing a lot of damage to floating cutters on combines. I heard some guys on that this spring, and the rough fields were in every case chiseled last 4 out of 5 years.

One guy mentioned soil compaction by moldboard plows. Soil compaction in fact is probably 80% caused by not enough tractor rubber on the ground. Throw away those weights and chloride, put rubber on ground for traction. I was at a farm last spring, watched one of those 300 hp Deeres roll over a concrete threshold in doorway of shop, he wasn't moving fast, it actually had a bounce effect. I'll bet the pounds per square inch on ground was less than any tractor out there. With 8 two foot wide tires there were a lot of square inches on the ground though.

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RAR/IA

09-28-2003 17:04:59




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
If you have any alfalfa in it, the chisel plow will not kill it. If you are going to replant alfalfa, you have to kill ALL of it and let land lay for a year or plant another crop. Alfalfa gives off a chemical that restricts or causes new alfalfa not to germinate. There are some new varieties that are better, but? Some use an undercutter (large sweeps 5 to 6 feet wide and pulled 4 to 6 inches deep) total width of 10 to 15 feet with a 4020 John Deere pulling. Takes some power, but really gets a good kill.

Roger

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Roger

09-28-2003 15:46:11




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
We always get the last cutting of hay off and
sringtooth it several times, then plant wheat.
This helps break up the hard pan and makes it
easier to plow after the wheat is cut. For some
reason wheat roots and the winter weather make the
ground easier to work.



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paul

09-28-2003 09:24:34




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
In my part of southern Minnesota, a chisel plow would be a waste of time, everything would be regrowing in spring. actually an alfalfa field can look a lot better after chiseling, the problem is how bumpy the field gets.

--->Paul



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MK

09-28-2003 07:07:18




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
Different areas, different methods. My neighbor(the only guy I've ever seen do this) chisel plows lengthwise and crosswise and then goes in with his plow. He does this for breaking up his alfalfa. It doesn't work with a 14" or 16" but an !8" or 20" does. He uses a JD 100 chisel plow and JD 3400 6x18" plow.



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RJ-AZ

09-28-2003 06:23:04




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
Kelly/MT, I guess you are from Montana. My dad is down in the Hardin area and he will rip both ways across the field with a chisel plow and let it sit over the winter. Use twister points if you have the HP to pull them.



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Ty

09-28-2003 04:42:36




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
In WI the red clay it always worked best to plow. Then in spring the ground broke up like sand. When it was chisel plowed it was clumppy and hard to break up the sod chunks in spring.



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Indydirtfarmer

09-28-2003 03:00:02




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
If you have a chizel plow, that's the way to go. It'll break up the compacted ground better than a mouldboard plow. (They actually contribute to the compaction) Chizeling a second time is just a waste of fuel. If the ground is in good shape, you might want to consider doing a "total kill" and then using a no-till planter (such as Haybuster) A lot less time/money/fuel, ect. They can usually be rented through your county extension office. (at least they are available in my county)

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ted

09-27-2003 22:47:25




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 Re: Chisel or Molbord plow? in reply to Kelly/MT, 09-27-2003 22:39:14  
If you can break it up enough, a chisel will probably work, then follow up with roundup in the spring. If it has been there for years you might have to plow it.



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