What size HP for a 3 furrow land plow

[Kyle241]

I run a 3 furrow plough behind my MX5100 (50hp). The soil however is a decent loamy type with some clay lower down.

 

[koamfps]

If it were me, I would buy a 3 bottom for decoration, maybe plant some flowers around it then go by a chisel plow and call it a day:2cents:

 

[rasorbackq]

A (very) general rule of thumb is one hp per inch of cut. 3x16= 48 HP. 2x16=32 HP, 3x14 = 42 HP etc. It's a starting place. I pull three 14 inch bottoms with a 50 hp at the PTO tractor. Yes it will vary with your soil type, moisture, what's growing on it etc.
You can remove the rear bottom if you can't pull it as a three. What tractor do you have?

I have a Branson 47 hp.
Seems the area is a lot of clay according to the well drilling chart

 

[allen in texas]

I have a Branson 47 hp.
Seems the area is a lot of clay according to the well drilling chart

47 engine or PTO? PTO horsepower is said to roughly translate to draw bar horsepower. Your power might be marginal for 3x16 but I pulled a 2x14 with a 25 PTO hp tractor and it did well.
That's the picture in my signature.

 

[rasorbackq]

47 engine.