Minimum HP Requirement for Subsoiler

[HamishMacCheap]

Any ideas of a minimum horsepower requirement for a single point subsoiler in hard clay? Is a 24 HP Kubota LSX2510SU sufficient?

The red clay in my area can get hard as a rock when it doesn't see rain and without someway to rip the soil, using a disc harrow, especially a light weight disc harrow, in an attempt to make food plots can be a frustrating experience.

 

[oldnslo]

You also need weight to get traction for pulling a subsoiler

I have 24 HP Branson with filled R1 tires estimate weight around 2,100 lbs without loader on and it will spin before running out of power with single subsoiler on a hard pull. It may take two or three passes to get to full 12 - 14 inch depth.

 

[HamishMacCheap]

The Kubota has ballast in the rear tires but it has industrial tires rather than ag tires. I fear this may not work in my favor.

 

[oldnslo]

The Kubota has ballast in the rear tires but it has industrial tires rather than ag tires. I fear this may not work in my favor.

Industrial tires may or may not reduce traction in hard ground since lugs on R1 may not penetrate the soil either.

I suspect you can pull single shank just not full depth on first pass. For food plot how deep do you need to go?

 

[ptsg]

I pull my homemade 2 shank ripper the full 16" deep in hard clay with my 35hp tractor, but with R1 tires.

 

[leonz]

You need to spread gypsum on your soil to break up the clay,
preferably mined gypsum as it will be less expensive to use and
easier to spread with less waste.

 

[JeepHead]

Any ideas of a minimum horsepower requirement for a single point subsoiler in hard clay? Is a 24 HP Kubota LSX2510SU sufficient?

The red clay in my area can get hard as a rock when it doesn't see rain and without someway to rip the soil, using a disc harrow, especially a light weight disc harrow, in an attempt to make food plots can be a frustrating experience.

I have a subsoiler that I bought for my 2502 and have no issues using it. I have hydraulic top link which makes it super easy to get it started and allow it to sink in.

 

[SmallChange]

I used a subsoiler/ripper with my 15 hp Kubota to prepare my lawn, including pulling up tree roots. More power and weight would have been helpful, would have been faster, but it did get the job done.

 

[HamishMacCheap]

For food plot how deep do you need to go?

Probably not much more than 6 to 8 inches since the seeds (oats most often) are spread on top of the food plot after ripping and discing. I use a poor man's cultipacker (an 8' 6X6 with chains) to smooth the ground before distributing the seed, fertilizer and lime in a 3 point rotary spreader and then, after sowing, to cover the product.

I had a four wheel drive Kubota MX 4700 and it was all it wanted to do to pull a seven shank spring cultivator/chisel plow. I ended up removing the center shank, reducing the shank count to six and it generally had no problem after that.

I sold there 4700 and the heavier implements and over the period of a year plus or so, I have downsized my equipment and implements to smaller and lighter.

In any event, I speculate if I can rip to 8 inches I will be fine. I often spend more time running the disc harrow after ripping since ripping produces large clumps of soil.

Thanks to all above who provided comments.

 

[HamishMacCheap]

Industrial tires may or may not reduce traction in hard ground since lugs on R1 may not penetrate the soil either.

True.