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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

When to break hard pan?

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ShepFL

11-03-2003 12:28:54




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I have a field that I work that does not drain well. Owner won't let me build a drainage swale or drainage ditch. I was thinking soil is heavy clay hence poor drainage. Got thinking though it may be hard pan do to compaction.

How do I determine if I have hard pan? Field is nearly square - approx. 20 acres, conventional tillage twice each yr., I have been working this field for 4 yrs. before that only 1/3 of the field had been worked. I have been thinking of using a single point to subsoil or should I pay someone with BIG rig to come in rip it for me?

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Jhill

11-04-2003 10:01:10




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 Re: When to break hard pan? in reply to ShepFL, 11-03-2003 12:28:54  
I have a single shank subsoiler with a "mole" on it. The "mole" is a ball attached to the end of the subsoiler tip with a chain. It creates a tunnel in the ground that acts like a tile in my ground. Unversity test have shown in can be good for 5 yrs or more. I ripped cross wise starting with the subsoiler in the ditch on the side of the field and dried out a really wet field.



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Maybe advice

11-04-2003 08:36:45




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 Re: When to break hard pan? in reply to ShepFL, 11-03-2003 12:28:54  
I had an old timer tell me that if you rip a field, to rip it on an angle or at least a different direction from which you normally travel.

He sometimes worked his field on an east/west axis, other times on a north/south axis. So he didn't think it would matter how he ripped it.
Later when working the field, the tractor tires on one side dropped into the ripped groove (too wet to work in reality), and he had a terrible time getting the tractor on solid footing to get it out. His advice---ALWAYS rip on a diagonal.

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Indydirtfarmer

11-03-2003 16:59:06




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 Re: When to break hard pan? in reply to ShepFL, 11-03-2003 12:28:54  
There are a number of types of "deep rippers" on the market. One that is gaining popularity, is available from Brillion. It uses a very thin (3/4") shank, that is straight. (As opposed to "parabolic") It opens up the sub-soil structure, without disturbing the surface. It promotes root growth, and allows drainage. (providing the "lay of the land" allows drainage) This type of tillage equipment works very well with no-till and "low-till" farming techniques. The bottom line is that land that doesn't drain, will benifit from tiling, and other types of drainage. You will only see "marginal" benifits from tillage methods to promote drainage

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rhudson

11-03-2003 14:10:26




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 Re: When to break hard pan? in reply to ShepFL, 11-03-2003 12:28:54  
needs to be kinda dry like kyhayman says,,to get fracture. the thought around here (virginia) is to do it before winter so that water might enter the fracture and that freezing cycles might help to further break up the hardpan. with our top soil so shallow, it might work.



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kyhayman

11-03-2003 12:48:48




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 Re: When to break hard pan? in reply to ShepFL, 11-03-2003 12:28:54  
Only way to determine if it is a tillage pan is to stick a probe in the ground. They make a 'cone penetrmeter' which measures pan density. Tillage pans and fragipans are two different beasts. Tillage pan will be at or slightly below plow layer. These rip nice with a subsoiler provided the subsoil isnt too wet. Rip with 3 shanks or more otherwise you will repress what you just ripped with your wheels. If the subsoil is too wet all you did was move the pan.

Fragipans are caused by the soil structure itself. Here, they occur at about 18-24" . Much more difficult to fix. Ripping only solves for a couple of years.

Look at the topography of the field. If it is in a basin no amount of ripping will fix it. The water has to have an outlet. Shame you cant tile it.

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