Bottom Plow

[lakngulf]

I have concluded that I need either a bottom plow or a tiller to do a better job with food plots. I have good heavy duty Howse 66" Disc but it cannot break through the pasture areas of heavy bermuda and fescue grass.

The price of a tiller, and the thought of moving parts, and the relatively small usage, has led me away from that option. I possibly could be swayed, however.

The idea of a bottom plow to initially turn the soil is appealing. If I go this option what would you recommend for a Kioti CK30 gear? What should I look for? What should I avoid?

 

[beenthere]

I'd suggest a one-bottom plow that the Kioti should be able to handle easily. Either 14 or 16" bottom.
A 2 bottom with 14" plows would possibly work as well.

I agree that your thought of a moldboard plow followed by your Hose disc will work up your planting ground nicely.

I picked up a 60" tiller for $500 and it has been working great for my food plots. I wish the deer liked the "food" better than they apparently do at this time. Three different clovers that came up nicely, but don't seem to interest the deer.

 

[nybirdman]

A tiller is not going to break thru sod....need to plow first....even and inexpensive single bottom(Tractor supply ($130.00) some-times called a potatoe plow....THEN TILL with roto-tiller.I do 10 acres a year;works for me.
I have found on small tractors a tiller does a lot better than discs.One pass on plowed ground with a tiller.....4 with a disc.

 

[sweettractors]

I have concluded that I need either a bottom plow or a tiller to do a better job with food plots. I have good heavy duty Howse 66" Disc but it cannot break through the pasture areas of heavy bermuda and fescue grass.

The price of a tiller, and the thought of moving parts, and the relatively small usage, has led me away from that option. I possibly could be swayed, however.

The idea of a bottom plow to initially turn the soil is appealing. If I go this option what would you recommend for a Kioti CK30 gear? What should I look for? What should I avoid?

Either of these plows should workout nicely on that tractor. Both are set up as 2-12 auto trip beams. $495 choice. One is a John Deere and the other is a Oliver. Ken Sweet

 

[PA hayseed]

A tiller is not going to break thru sod....need to plow first....

I disagree and currently have the garden to prove it. Go slow, adjust the depth on multiple passes, eventually till to full depth. have done this hundreds of times, multiple locations. I put in gardens for friends and family everywhere I have ever lived and have always followed the same process. I have never had my areas plowed before tilling. I've been tilling gardens since I was a kid, and we always did it the same way everytime. Now, for a very large area over several acres, this system will still work but would not be advisable unless you are retired and have nothing better to do. Then I would suggest following nybirdman's advice. I would say an acre or two isn't too large to do my way.

Another idea may be to use the scarifiers on a box blade prior to tilling. IF you have the BB it might save a couple of dollars. I don't know about you, but I don't have a money tree in my backyard.

 

[sweettractors]

When I plow, I plow about 8-10 inches deep. Will a tiller work that deep? Ken Sweet

 

[MtnViewRanch]

When I plow, I plow about 8-10 inches deep. Will a tiller work that deep? Ken Sweet

If you have the right tiller and a big enough machine to use it. :laughing:
Probably not going to work for this guy though.

 

[dourobob]

Maybe you could find an old Ferguson or Ford two furrow that would work.
I have seen them around here for $50 and $60 at auctions.

 

[PA hayseed]

When I plow, I plow about 8-10 inches deep. Will a tiller work that deep? Ken Sweet

not 10 and likely not 8 depending on tiller/angle of tiller. When I till, my soil is like powder when done and I love it. I do a lot of mound planting, so when I mound I have about a foot+ of powder soil I am planting in. I know a plow isn't doing that. IF your good you flip your soil all the way over with a plow, if your not good you ran a hunk of metal 8-10 inches into the ground. at the end of the harvest season, my tiller will outwork any plow for putting under all those plants and reject vegies (in a small area). As they say, economy of scale and all that.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against plows by any means. I am actually still looking for an el cheapo 2 or 3 bottom (remove the third) so that in about another 8 years or so I can bust up the hardpan from the tiller. Until then I am fine.

 

[sweettractors]

not 10 and likely not 8 depending on tiller/angle of tiller. When I till, my soil is like powder when done and I love it. I do a lot of mound planting, so when I mound I have about a foot+ of powder soil I am planting in. I know a plow isn't doing that. IF your good you flip your soil all the way over with a plow, if your not good you ran a hunk of metal 8-10 inches into the ground. at the end of the harvest season, my tiller will outwork any plow for putting under all those plants and reject vegies (in a small area). As they say, economy of scale and all that.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against plows by any means. I am actually still looking for an el cheapo 2 or 3 bottom (remove the third) so that in about another 8 years or so I can bust up the hardpan from the tiller. Until then I am fine.

A Subsoiler would also breakup the hard pan. Ken Sweet