Improving pasture surface drainage?

[Cleirigh]

Hey all,

I have 18ac of meandering bottomland swales that are rough and rutted, it floods in winter and doesn't surface drain like it should so I'm looking to remedy that this spring. I don't want a golf course but since I'm taking the pasture offline for the season I want to take the time to improve it as best I can. I don't need to make any major changes to topography, just need to remove high spots that are preventing drainage and generally smooth/grade the swales to the river. I'm thinking I'll make a few passes with an offset disk, maybe followed by a box blade and dress it out with a chain harrow after I reseed.

Question is, does it matter which path I follow when I do all this tractor work? My intuition tells me I should start at the swale bottom and contour up from there , but don't ask me to defend that :confused3:. Any path that has me pulling dirt into the swale (e.g. straight parallel lines or contouring top to bottom) just feels wrong to me, or maybe that only matters on the pass with the box blade.

Advice, tips, constructive derision are all welcome.

 

[gghb]

I rototill 2 swaths wide than use angled back blade to lay material to the out side than if i need to go deeper than i till 3 swaths and lay material to the out side as many times as needed to create a gently sloped swale.

greg

 

[kw22614]

Hey, welcome. This spring I intend doing the same to my back yard but I plan to pull a heavy plug aerator also. Just aerating every few years can help greatly with drainage, and proper grade, of coarse. My land is dead flat, sorry can't advise about the swale. I'm sure you'll get lots of replies soon enough.

 

[Jim Timber]

Sounds like you might have some deeper compaction depending how long that's been pasture. Subsoiler might help.

 

[jeff9366]

Your Deere 3520 has about the same weight and horsepower as my Kubota L3560.

What was your land used for prior to your acquisition? What created the swales and how far above grade do the swales rise?

If animals were kept in the pasture, whether cattle, horses, goats or something else with hooves, compaction is the most probable cause of standing water. I would dig several inspection holes to determine what you have below the surface and topsoil depth.

I expect an offset disc with 20" diameter pans, probably all you can pull with the Deere 3520, will penetrate 4" on the first pass and 7" on the second pass. Will this be enough? You do not want to mix less fertile subsoil and more fertile topsoil together.

A Field Cultivator, which is a light duty Chisel Plow, will penetrate to 10", aerating and loosening the soil, while leaving soil layers intact.

The two brands of currently manufactured Field Cultivators suitable for your Deere are Fred Cain and Dirt Dog. You may find used Ford/Dearborn and Bush Hog brands. Your tractor can pull a five shank, 66" wide Field Cultivator for sure = $900.

Also search for pasture aerators. There are many types and designs all somewhat like Field Cultivators. Generally speaking, pasture aerators penetrate only to 6", Field Cultivators deeper.

EverythingAttachments Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R-8ZhFlO5Y

Field Cultivators on eBay (2): Field Cultivator in Heavy Equipment Attachments | eBay

All Purpose Plow in Heavy Equipment Attachments | eBay

You do NOT want a so-called Field Cultivator with S-tines.

 

[MMagis]

If it floods every year, I think as soon as you get animals back on it and they make their hoof prints your problem might re-occur. Is installing tile an option?

 

[Spindifferent]

Speak with your local county extension agent.

 

[hslogger]

I agree with Spindifferent. I have some wet land, and in one pasture I shot the grade a few years ago when I was getting ready to rehabilitate it. The field had a nine foot drop in elevation from east to west, and a few less feet from north to south. It was severely compacted,which I knew, and just didn't have the bread until then to do it right.. We ended up plowing it with contour, which is a pain in the butt. The end result after discing, lime, seed,fertilizer was real good. Contour!

 

[oldnslo]

Flooding by itself will compact the ground. If this floods every year will contouring or draining prevent or reduce this?

 

[rgr33]

What about installing perforated drain pipe to drain excess water off when the water table rises?