Food Plots Disc and tiller question

[BSK]

Have yal ever plowed your ground? Chisel plow or anything?

We tried chisel-plowing in late summer and ground was too hard even for that. Chisel-plows barely cut the surface.

However, since we've been tilling it, the ground is in much better shape. Now it will still harden up over the summer, but not like it used to be.

Realistically, our tilling maintains a severe hardpan just below where the tiller can reach, but having 4" of soft soil on top of that hardpan has been a Godsend for plant growth and water retention, especially for summer crops.

We could always run a ripper over the plots, but that would only bring up watermelon-sized rocks. The reason we have steep ridgelines is because of the rock holding them up, and that rock is just under the surface (and at the surface in some locations). Even in our best ridge-top plots, they are loaded with baseball to grapefruit-sized chunks of chert-rock.

 

[deerhunter10]

We tried chisel-plowing in late summer and ground was too hard even for that. Chisel-plows barely cut the surface.

However, since we've been tilling it, the ground is in much better shape. Now it will still harden up over the summer, but not like it used to be.

Realistically, our tilling maintains a severe hardpan just below where the tiller can reach, but having 4" of soft soil on top of that hardpan has been a Godsend for plant growth and water retention, especially for summer crops.

We could always run a ripper over the plots, but that would only bring up watermelon-sized rocks. The reason we have steep ridgelines is because of the rock holding them up, and that rock is just under the surface (and at the surface in some locations). Even in our best ridge-top plots, they are loaded with baseball to grapefruit-sized chunks of chert-rock.

We deal with a ton of rocks as well we don't chisel plow either but we don't have the hard pan issue either. It's crazy how the ground changes around the state.

 

[tellico4x4]

n our best ridge-top plots, they are loaded with baseball to grapefruit-sized chunks of chert-rock.

Surprised those grapefruit size rocks don't play havoc with your tiller. I've got several plots that I'm afraid to put mine in due to rocks

 

[BSK]

Surprised those grapefruit size rocks don't play havoc with your tiller.

They do! That's why we had to upgrade tillers. The rocks and hard ground wreaked havoc on the garden-quality tiller. Had several teeth broken off and the continuous pounding loosened up every bearing and gasket. Grease was leaking from ever seal.

 

[knightrider]

I will never disk or till again!!!! Theres no need, spray and no till

 

[deerhunter10]

I will never disk or till again!!!! Theres no need, spray and no till

We no till as well but we work our ground every 5ish years in the spring. Compaction can become as issue.

 

[BSK]

I will never disk or till again!!!! Theres no need, spray and no till

Try running a no-till planter over my ground. You will end up with all your seed laying on top the ground! Plus, without breaking up the ground, all the plants have roots that run sideways right along the ground's surface. Even turnip/brassica roots won't penetrate.