Bottom Plows

[jimbecky48001]

Hi
I have been lurking for some time now. I have a cottage with 3 acres and I am going to attempt some landscaping and garden projects this comming year. I have a New Holland TC25D and I just bought a WOODS tiller and box blade. I have around 2 acres to work and was thinking about a bottom plow. Does anyone know if my tractor will pull a 2 bottom plow or should I get a 1 bottom plow? Any help would be apreciated.

Thanks
Jim

 

[JiminGa]

jim, I'd stick with a single bottom for your tractor, it would do well pulling a 14 inch

 

[Egon]

With the tiller you may not need the plough?

 

[jimbecky48001]

That is what I was thinking , but I have been getting alot of differing opinions on it .

 

[jimmer2880]

With the tiller you may not need the plough?

it all depends on his soil. I know that all the dirt around here, if it's never been worked before, the plow is almost a necessary. I tried with just a tiller, but it only scratched the top inch. But, I was able to pull a single bottom plow nice & deep to bust it all up. Then, the tiller was able to go full depth. I usually have to make 2 passes with the tiller before it's "good enough".

 

[jimbecky48001]

My property was a horse pasture. I was hoping to use a 2 bottom plow to save time , but am worried my tractor wont pull it.

 

[wolc123]

You would be marginal on tractor size for a 2-bottom, forcing you to operate a very slow speed where plows dont do so well. This would result in results of poorer quality than had you pulled a 1-bottom at higher speed and take you almost as long. Better to just spend the extra half hour or so that using a 1-bottom at higher seed would require for the 2-acres, and end up with a better job (all the sod flipped over like it should be). If you find a sweet deal on a 2-bottom, you can just remove the rear one and save it for spare parts.

 

[suncoast]

If your land was a horse pasture for some length of time it should be organically rich by now and egon might be correct that a tiller would be enough. If you are going to use a plow stay with a one bottom for your first attempt. FWJ knows plows as good as anyone here if you want some really good advice.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I'm certainly no authority on the capabilities of your tractor. I'm guessing a 2-bottom plow would be a little much though. Especially so if you're wanting to break compacted pasture land. Animals can (and do) compact soil to a far greater extent than any wheeled equipment can Years of paturing can leave soil like concrete. You're looking at some of the toughest plowing conditions you're apt to encounter.

Moldboard plows CAN help. But they have their own set of limitations when it comes to reducing compaction. Typically, they'll work to a depth of 6" to 8". (+ or -) From that point on deeper, they actually can (and will) make the problem WORSE in many soil structures. Some AG engineers explain it a little different than "making it worse. They explain it by saying moldboard plows will make the difference between upper layers of soil and soil below the working depth more pronounced. Crop roots that flourish in upper soil layers hit the "plow pan" and run out of gas. But....ya gotta do what you CAN do. 8" of loose seedbed is better than NO loose seedbed.

Best option in MOST conditions is a chisel plow, OR, years of recovery time with many freeze/thaw cycles to allow natural "heaving" to break compaction. Since the latter lacks that "instant gratification" we often need, the former becomes the best option in most cases. Moldboard plows become a fair alternative to either.

Plows do their best work when you can maintain a REASONABLE ground speed. Most "modern" plows need 4 to 5mph. (Modern being a relative term. plow design has slowed since the 1960's as they see limited use in most areas nowdays, and have but a limited following. They are more popular in Europe as opposed to the US, but are loosing ground (pardon the pun) even in European markets. What I speak of as "modern" are plow designs from the 1950's through 1970's, which are typical of what is available in US markets)

So....long story short....If you have settled on a plow, I'd go with a smaller 1-bottom version that you KNOW you can maintain a reasonable speed and depth in harsh conditions.