Disc Harrow What Type of Plow to Use/Own

[MrPenetrator]

I want to offer all of my info to get the best ideas bc so far, TBN has been great helping a new tractor owner!

I live outside of Waco, TX, about 800 yds from the Brazos river, as the crow flies. I have great river bottom soil.

I've got an 1950 8N that my dad rebuilt that I just used with a shredder for the 1st time last night & cut down some of my fields. I do also own a 2009 Kioti 40 hp, but I really just want to use with the bucket with this tractor, & will rent a post hole digger sporadically when I need, don't really want to remove the bucket to use other attachments.

My plan is to shred & plow with the 8N. I have about 1 acre I am going to devote to planting some kind of crops. Haven't decided if I just want to make a food plot for deer, or maybe harvest some crops - corn, potatoes, onions, etc.

I am asking for help/suggestions with the type of plow that would be best. Not sure if need to get disk plow or a row bedder? I think there is a chisel plow as well? What would be some of the different criteria I would need to look for between the different types of plows?

I appreciate all the help & suggestions here, this place has been wonderful!

Chris

 

[jeff9366]

I have great river bottom soil.

I've got an 1950 8N. I do also own a 2009 Kioti 40 hp, but I really just want to use with the bucket with this tractor, & will rent a post hole digger sporadically when I need, don't really want to remove the bucket to use other attachments.

I am asking for suggestions with the type of plow that would be best. Not sure if need to get disk plow or a row bedder? I think there is a chisel plow as well? What would be some of the different criteria I would need to look for between the different types of plows?

Most correspondents on this site NEVER remove the FEL from their tractor. Those with good fortune to have SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) buckets do take them off at least occasionally, most often when mowing, just a matter of releasing lock levers on the right and left side of the SSQA fixture.

1. How long has it been since ground was worked?
2. What is growing on the land now? If weeds, how thick?
3. Does the river flood your land periodically, so erosion control is an issue on all or part?

For one to two acre areas you will be better off with a tractor PTO powered roto-tiller, pretty much an all in one implement displacing plow, Disc Harrow and Chain Harrow. A counter-rotation tiller will bury surface vegetation more readily than more common forward rotation tiller.

Roto-tillers are easy to use. It takes considerable time to learn to adjust and use a moldboard plow so it will invert soil correctly.

VIDEO: PTO tiller - YouTube

Land should be plowed once to 'open' it for secondary tillage. Thereafter secondary tillage with a Disc Harrow with minimum 18" diameter pans, preferably 20"+ diameter pans follows. (If you plow with a 12" plow, the most common size, it will leave 12" waves/furrows in the soil. If you plow with a 14" plow, it will leave 14" furrows to deal with.) Discing twice, once with Disc Harrow gangs set aggressively, then changed to less aggressive position for second pass, will leave a reasonably smooth bed. If you want it smoother, especially if it will be pasture which will be mowed, drag it next, with Chain Harrow or Spike Tooth Harrow being implements of choice. Sometimes I used a Landscape Rake with gauge wheels.

(Comprehend how much simpler a roto-tiller is for small areas?)

Chisel Plows are for deep primary tillage while leaving crop residue on the surface for prevent wind erosion. Most Chisel Plows require around a 100-hp tractor to pull them. Buckeye Tractor offers lighter Chisel Plows suitable for your 4-WD Kioti. Land requires as much secondary tillage after being opened with a Chisel Plow.

50% lighter than Buckeye Tractor's CUT Chisel Plows are secondary tillage Field Cultivators, which work fine on previously opened soil. On river bottom soil, if first mowed close, Field Cultivator might work on unopened ground.

Had I one acre of good bottom land I would make a garden, rather than a crop. I would acquire a roto-tiller for soil prep. To me, a garden produces for the table, crops are sold.

 

[stuckmotor]

In this area when plowing big fields disc harrows were preferred over turn plows. Often followed with a chisel plow and/or drag harrow. IMHO Weight and correct moisture content are key to good results with a pull type disc harrow and spring is the best time to plow.

 

[jeff9366]

OP has one acre.

 

[MrPenetrator]

I have 2 spots on my land that I am considering, both are 'squares' & both will be smaller than '1 square acre' - more between 1/2 - 3/4 of an acre. The land does not get flooded, although this year we had considerable rain & kept water in the fields for quite some time.

Nothing has been done to these plots in quite some time, if ever. We bought this place 2 years ago; it was vacant for 5 yrs, then the previous owner lived in for a few yrs, so there has been no work done to the land. Was pretty thick grass that I just shredded yesterday for the 1st time since we have owned. Lots of mesquites.... Now that I have grass cut, I am gong to spend some time pulling/cutting out the bigger mesquites I couldnt cut with shredder. I prob have around 30 to get out of the ground now, none of them bigger than 2" in diameter.

 

[rgr33]

Agree with Jeff, a rototiller makes the most sense for a 1 acre plot. If you were doing 40 acres, it might be a different answer. Probably should give some thought to weed control on that plot, since it hasn't been worked before.

 

[MrPenetrator]

I have a question about using a tiller w/the 8N. It is geared pretty high. I shredded in 1st gear yesterday & it was moving faster than I'd really like to go even shredding. I'm not a mechanic by any means, I am learning as I go here, but my father, who rebuilt the 8N, is a master mechanic. He isn't the most knowledgeable when it comes to plowing, but he mentioned that tilling wouldnt be an option bc even in 1st gear, the 8N moves too fast.

Any feedback on the speed needed for a tiller w/the 8N?

 

[jeff9366]

Most 8Ns have a four speed transmission. LOW may be too high for roto-tilling. I do not know if 8N buyers had options on overall gear ratios.

Hydrostatic/HST transmission is optimum for roto-tilling.

 

[MrPenetrator]

would need to use the kioti for roto-tilling then... Our 8N is only 4 gears, no hi/low range. I'm not positive, but I bet 1st gear runs between 3-4mph, it's pretty fast for the low gear.

I would also like to add that we already have over 1/3 of an acre for our personal garden. tomatoes, potatoes, onions, squash, cucumbers, several different peppers, & bunch of berry bushes - that is what was our spring garden.

Why I say, not sure if going to plant food for the table or to sell at farmer's market - or just make a food plot for deer. Regardless, I want to get this field cleared & plowed so I can make a decision & do something with it.

 

[bcp]

Hire a big-farmer-neighbor to do the first plowing, Then get whatever lighter duty implements you decide to use.


Will you be doing flood irrigation, row irrigation, sprinklers, rain, drip, soaker hoses?

Bruce

 

[MrPenetrator]

That's an idea - big farmer. I've got a few options for water. Dont have gutter system set up on any of our buildings yet, but have the equipment. We also have an old circular cement well that holds water. Currently I am using a water pump to pump water from the well into water tanks & water our garden from there. My plan is to buy some more water tanks & a smaller trailer & have a mobile water station to spray w/my pump. Once have gutters in place on shop & house, will probably rig a gravity drip system, or add a smaller 12v pump if not enough pressure.

Any advice you could add on watering, I am all ears....

 

[joeu235]

if your 500 ft from the Brazos, you should have water about 30 feet down. A well would probably be a reasonable expense around $3k.

Its hard to collect water for a large garden in central Texas. I know my place just down I-35 hasn't seen rain since the end of May.

 

[sweettractors]

I want to offer all of my info to get the best ideas bc so far, TBN has been great helping a new tractor owner!

I live outside of Waco, TX, about 800 yds from the Brazos river, as the crow flies. I have great river bottom soil.

I've got an 1950 8N that my dad rebuilt that I just used with a shredder for the 1st time last night & cut down some of my fields. I do also own a 2009 Kioti 40 hp, but I really just want to use with the bucket with this tractor, & will rent a post hole digger sporadically when I need, don't really want to remove the bucket to use other attachments.

My plan is to shred & plow with the 8N. I have about 1 acre I am going to devote to planting some kind of crops. Haven't decided if I just want to make a food plot for deer, or maybe harvest some crops - corn, potatoes, onions, etc.

I am asking for help/suggestions with the type of plow that would be best. Not sure if need to get disk plow or a row bedder? I think there is a chisel plow as well? What would be some of the different criteria I would need to look for between the different types of plows?

I appreciate all the help & suggestions here, this place has been wonderful!

Chris

The disc plow in the link below is most likely what would work best for you. A roto tiller on the N tractor is not going to work well at all. Ken Sweet
Used Dearborn 2 Disc Turning Plow 3 PT Hook We SHIP Fast and Cheap | eBay

 

[motownbrowne]

8Ns are cute tractors. Pretty good at pulling floats on a parade and hauling wagons and trailers around for firewood and odd jobs. They're alright at pulling a plow or disc also. Why anyone with a modern tractor would even begin to consider putting a bush hog or tiller the back of one is totally beyond me.

Your 40 Kioti is much much better suited these tasks. It has way more HP and lower gears. I've run bush hogs and tillers behind our 2 (now down to 1) 8Ns, for years. Since we got our Kubota I've never considered hooking anything up to the PTO of the N.

Go bush hog for an hour with the Ford, then hook it up to the Kioti and see what you think.

In regards to your question though, a rototiller would be the handiest tool to own for tilling a one acre field.

 

[jeff9366]

Your 40 Kioti is much much better suited these tasks. It has way more HP and lower gears. I've run bush hogs and tillers behind our 2 (now down to 1) 8Ns, for years. Since we got our Kubota I've never considered hooking anything up to the PTO of the N. Why anyone with a modern tractor would even begin to consider putting a bush hog or tiller the back of one is beyond me.

Go bush hog for an hour with the Ford, then hook it up to the Kioti and see what you think.

~~~ X 2 ~~~

The Kioti is SAFER to operate, too. There is not much shielding from moving parts on the original 9N/2N/8N Fords.

 

[ch1ch2]

Lots of mesquites.... Now that I have grass cut, I am gong to spend some time pulling/cutting out the bigger mesquites I couldnt cut with shredder. I prob have around 30 to get out of the ground now, none of them bigger than 2" in diameter.

I have dealt with mesquites a lot. You may want to try just pushing them over with your loader. Start about 2 to 3 foot high. Most of mine will come out with the root ball just pushing them with my tractor. You may want to load your tires for more traction.

It sure makes my life easier.

To answer your question... You have received much good advice already. I have all of the mentioned implements and I use to do a lot with the tiller, but I have found that it over works the soil over a period of time. It is hard for me to give you advice since you will be buying implements to use. I hate to spend my hard earned money and I am not comfortable spending other peoples money.
So, my suggestion is; read everyones input and reread it again, take your time before deciding what to do. Unless you have lots of money, lots of time to play, and find out what works for you, and your soil and your tractor.

 

[Egon]

One acre; rototiller would meet all your needs. Use the kioti.

Tradition farm implements just are not suited to small plots. Very awkward to use.

 

[allen in texas]

I have a two bottom ford 102 series rollover plow that would work. I'm only a few hundred miles from you in Levelland Texas. Its the one in my signature

 

[Fallon]

I used a $150 subsoiler to "plow" then a tiller behind my 32hp L3200hst. Worked great. Use a tiller under an few acres, not a disc.

 

[ESBkevin]

I used a $150 subsoiler to "plow" then a tiller behind my 32hp L3200hst. Worked great. Use a tiller under an few acres, not a disc.

That would be my suggestion too. Break it up deep then rotovate or rototill after. You need some weight on the tractor to get a grip when sub soiling. It probably only needs doing every couple of years depending on how compressed the soil gets.