BUSH HOG FOLLOWED BY FINISH MOWER THOUGHTS?

[jjlanotte]

So here is what I'm doing. For the past couple years I've been growing cover crops on my 3 acre plot, cutting it down with a brush hog, and then tilling it in. What I dont like is that the mounds of cut debris is a lot and it takes time to break down and is more work on the tiller. What I'd like to know if any of you have any advice if following up with a finish mower would work to cut it down even finer, say a week or so after inittialy cut. One, so that it would break down even quicker, and two, so that it would till in easier.

 

[3gunr]

I had the same problem before and i used to try and scrape as much as possible off with the bucket before tilling. now i cut it low and spray it a month before planting. makes tilling much easier.

 

[jjlanotte]

I want to keep the biomass there, Im just searching for a way to turn it more into "fines" I guess

 

[ericm979]

A flail mower would mulch the material instead of just cutting it like the rotary does. But buying one is an expensive solution.
You could try mowing twice with with the rotary- once set a couple inches high, then again at normal height.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

A flail mower would mulch the material instead of just cutting it like the rotary does. But buying one is an expensive solution.
You could try mowing twice with with the rotary- once set a couple inches high, then again at normal height.

I cut twice with finish mower, high then low.

 

[jjlanotte]

A flail mower would mulch the material instead of just cutting it like the rotary does. But buying one is an expensive solution.
You could try mowing twice with with the rotary- once set a couple inches high, then again at normal height.

Thats sort of what I was thinking. I grown high grasses and legumes and the brush hog is great for putting them down. I was thinking the finish mower with a rear discharge would be an acceptable "mulching" type of second pass.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Your idea will work fine. Especially if thats the equipment you already have

 

[jaxs]

If your soil is sandy and/or has good tilth over a range of moisture,a 2 bottom Moldboard equipped with cutting coulters will do a great job if shears are sharp and plow is properly adjusted. A moldboard is simple to set up and adjust after you are shown how. There is only one way that is correct while there's half a dozen that look right but will not plow right. A sure sign something is wrong is if the MF-135 w perkins pull's to the side and difficult to steer and/or lose's traction pulling 2 bottoms. If you aren't experienced with moldboards,ask an old hand. If your soil is heavy,get's sticky and has a tendency to form large chunks when wet,a disc plow is better. A disc plow work's well in all soils,does well where there's stumps and rock and are easy to adjust but cost's more than moldboard. Disc plow require's less horse power than moldboard,therefore cover's more ground. Don't confuse disc plow with disc harrow,two different empliments for different purposes. No need to mow first with either. Compared to tilling where vegetation is tall,I think you would be impressed.

 

[kthompson]

Rough cut mowers do a poor job of cutting compared to a finishing mower. The finer you get it cut the quicker it will break down and easier to incorporate it. Okay not exactly the same but think of ice cubes is what rough cut mower leaves you. Then think of crushed ice, how much finer it is and how it will melt quicker as the ice now has much more surface contract and melts much faster so will the finer clippings (break down).

 

[jeff9366]

Mouldboard plows have been turning under debris for 4,000 years.

VIDEO: compact tractor mouldboard plow - YouTube