Subsoiling (ripping)

37 chief · Nov 30, 2009

I have a 1/2 acre garden plot that I always disc before the winter rains to loosen up the soil thinking this will help water to go deeper? Discing doesn't go very deep. This year I hooked up Dad's old single point subsoiler and ripped up the field some. I want to know how close should each pass be. If I try to get close to the prevoius path, I run over what I have already ripped. Does it matter? I am using my crawler, so it shouldn't repack previous path, or does it? If I cross the area it will also run over previous ripped area. What do you think? Stan

Anonymous-0 · Nov 30, 2009

How about every 30 to 38 inches even if the tractor has to strattle the prior ripping. Much of the benefit comes from extra water getting in and the freezing heaving the ground even more. I think the slot lets extra frost into the ground as well.

buickanddeere · Nov 30, 2009

After ripping my heavy clay every 7ft with a single shank unit. Rain water no longer sits on the soil surface for days.

Joe in Neb · Nov 30, 2009

I think it depends on how deep you are going. But I'd say 30 inchs would be good and it won't hurt to drive over it now. It will break up over winter. Your crawler won't pack much anyway. I used to rip two feet deep and it was amazing the difference it would make. Might take more water next summer but you should see difference in produce

Janicholson · Nov 30, 2009

It can be as close as desired, heavy ripping will put fairly sterile soil into the top soil mix, be careful of that in blue or yellow clay "hard pan"
The dozer (or tractor for that matter) will not affect the ripped soil at all. It is a function of breaking up an impermeable layer to let moisture through for drainage, and to assist in deepening the soil in a shallow top soil area. Adding green manure (or real manure) for organic composition will also be valuable. Jim

george md · Nov 30, 2009

Stan,

Rule of thumb is spacing about twice the

depth or slightly more . We ran about 20 inches

deep and about 4 feet apart , needs to be close

enough to shatter all the soil between .

Don't waste your time doing it when the ground

is wet, it will just fall back together and seal

up.

george

Anonymous-0 · Dec 1, 2009

Discing is counter productive for reducing compaction. It actually CAUSES the problems you're trying to eliminate. A combination of the tractors weight and the compaction from the disc itself creates a compaction layer that will hold water. Deep ripping or subsoiling will do far more to eliminate that compaction layer than most any other tillage method.

The BEST results with ripping are achieved when the ground is dry. You'll get more shattering action as opposed to merely ripping a slit in the ground.

Ground will eventually "heal" itself from compaction with freeze/thaw cycles, and the "heaving" that causes. That's one of the underlying principals in no-till farming. That however, takes time.

Not claiming to be an expert in the subject, but I've had good results with subsoiling in a couple wet fields of mine. I did it with a single shank subsoiler, and was moving overe each pass just slightly more that half the tractors width. (Running tractor wheel just clear of previous pass) It worked for me, YMMV.

Subsoiling (ripping)

37 chief

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Anonymous-0

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buickanddeere

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Joe in Neb

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Janicholson

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george md

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Anonymous-0

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