Levelling / repairing pastures

[Featherbrained farms]

Howdy! Part of our small farm's income is from duck eggs. Now, I love ducks, but these things will destroy your land pretty quickly. Their pasture tends to hold water and whenever it rains, water pools up and, man, do they have a great time. They swim, poke holes, destroy everything in sight, etc. As a result, two years later that pasture looks a wwII battlefield with craters. I'm thinking of cordoning off some sections to regenerate it.

My plan is to bring in topsoil, level and re-seed. What implement would you suggest I use in order to level the surface?

 

[jeff9366]

If your soil is not too tough, I suggest a Field Cultivator. A CK2510 should manage four tines and penetrate to 12" depth if you desire.

(Four tine model around $700 in USA.)

MORE: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

 

[Featherbrained farms]

Hmm hadn't though of that. My profile is wrong, I just updated it, I have a Kubota L2501 in the end. So field cultivator... would you then add topsoil and level with rake or not even?

 

[LouNY]

If your soil is not too tough, I suggest a Field Cultivator. A CK2510 should manage either five tines or four tines, more likely five tines, and penetrate to 12" depth if you desire.

(Five tine model around $700 in USA.)

MORE: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

I see you have very sandy soft soil, around here in the hard boney soil those light duty tines would be destroyed quickly, your second picture you are using them as we would a set of chisel plows. We pull a 12ft set of chisel plows and disk with 175-225 hp and 18,000-20,000#s

 

[jeff9366]

Field Cultivator and Chisel Plow are very loosely used implement terms.

To me, a Field Cultivator is theoretically for secondary cultivation, where a Chisel Plow is theoretically for primary cultivation. They are built similarly but to different scales. Both implements have spring protection for the tines. However, it is true that "hard, boney" dirt could pretzel a Field Cultivator. (The other side of the coin is that I have never seen a real Chisel Plow in Florida, either behind a tractor or in a tractor dealer's implement inventory.)

In Florida sandy-loam there has been just one occasion when my Field Cultivator did not want to penetrate ~~~that was a hard packed pasture in a dry month.

I would rip with the Field Cultivator first, then observe the results. Field Cultivator deep rip may solve your excessive standing water problem, which will stimulate grass and worms ~~~ as should high nitrogen duck excreta.

Field Cultivator will level slightly. Think of it as a rake with rake teeth spaced 8" apart.

Photo #1 Dirt Dog (brand) 66" All Purpose Plow
Photo #2 Athens Chisel Plow/ 5 tines.


How about a good description of your soil?


VIDEO: How to Use a Ripper / Field Cultivator - Gardening Series - YouTube

 

[jeff9366]

A further note.

The Field Cultivator was developed by Harry Ferguson, inventor of the Three Point Hitch. Ferguson called it a "tiller".
Harry was a small man. He makes that Ferguson tractor, same size as a Ford 9N/2N/8N, look big.

Ferguson's "Tiller" was one of the first four (4) Three Point Hitch tractor implements.

 

[RNeumann]

Seems like good advise so far on the actual question at hand. And To be clear I’m no duck farmer either. But I have heard a saying “like a duck to water.”
I’m wondering if these little creatures are aware of your sinister desire to ruin their fun? I foresee a BIG decrease in egg yield! Maybe even a strike!

 

[jeff9366]

What implement would you suggest to level the surface?

I suggest a PTO-powered roto-tiller, pulled in a different direction once per year.

 

[Featherbrained farms]

Field Cultivator and Chisel Plow are very loosely used implement terms.

To me, a Field Cultivator is theoretically for secondary cultivation, where a Chisel Plow is theoretically for primary cultivation. They are built similarly but to different scales. Both implements have spring protection for the tines. However, it is true that "hard, boney" dirt could pretzel a Field Cultivator. (The other side of the coin is that I have never seen a real Chisel Plow in Florida, either behind a tractor or in a tractor dealer's implement inventory.)

In Florida sandy-loam there has been just one occasion when my Field Cultivator did not want to penetrate ~~~that was a hard packed pasture in a dry month.

I would rip with the Field Cultivator first, then observe the results. Field Cultivator deep rip may solve your excessive standing water problem, which will stimulate grass and worms ~~~ as should high nitrogen duck excreta.


How about a good description of your soil?


VIDEO: How to Use a Ripper / Field Cultivator - Gardening Series - YouTube

Official soil description is bouldery loam - there is quite a bit of clay as well. The area in question though used to be front lawn (not anymore!) and has some mature trees around - I値l try and take pictures tomorrow. There are roots here and there which makes get make ripping interesting

 

[Featherbrained farms]

We致e opted against roto tilers on our farm in favour of minimal tillage with discs so no roto tiller unfortunately.