plowing

[darrenjttu]

I have about an acer of land that I want to make into a pasture. It is really rocky with lots of big flat Rock in it. The dirt is really good and I have most of the rocks out. Some still lie beneath the surface waiting to be discovered. Would a disk plow be good for this as far as breaking up the dirt and exposing the remaining rocks?

 

[Steave]

A disc would probably just ride on top of the rocks if they're large and could damage your plow. I have run mine over hard ground to help loosen it up but some kind of plow with chisel teeth like a box blade might grab the rocks better and roll them out of the ground.

I've pulled my pulverizer slowly through soil that is loosened and it will roll out the larger rocks. You already know rocks and plows don't get along together and broken disc and teeth will sometimes happen so I always work slowly.

Pulling the disc over it slowly is bound to help loosen the dirt and help the problem of getting the rocks up but I would do it very slow.

 

[MMagis]

Do you mean a disc, or a disc plow? They are two different things, though not many are familiar with a disc plow. I don’t think they’ve been made for years.

A disc would help expose more rocks, but so would a lot of things. A box blade with teeth down would probably work better. Beware, you’ll probably keep finding more and more rocks the more you disturb the soil. It’s almost like they multiply.

 

[jeff9366]

A Disc Plow, indeed, would be your best implement to turn "really rocky" ground.

Monroe Tufline is the only producer of new Disc Plows. TDP2 Series 2 & 3 Blade Disc Plows | Tufline

Monroe Tufline exhibits at most of the ag shows in The South.


There are an unusually high number of Disc Plows for sale on eBay at the moment: Disc Plow in Business and Industrial Supplies | eBay


Ken Sweet in Kentucky, a regular T-B-N contributor, has Disc Plows for sale. I have purchased from Ken. He is reliable.

SWEET TRACTORS: Sweet Farm Equipment - New & Used Farming Tools & Equipment | Tractor Equipment, Implements


Also consider a spring-protected Field Cultivator. Tines of a Field Cultivator will penetrate 10" and require but half the tractor force to pull, relative to Box Blade shanks.

In the photos: 66" Dirt Dog Field Cultivator, AKA All Purpose Plow. (It is NOT a plow. It is a type of ripper.)

 

[Fallon]

Do you mean a disc, or a disc plow? They are two different things, though not many are familiar with a disc plow. I don’t think they’ve been made for years.

A disc would help expose more rocks, but so would a lot of things. A box blade with teeth down would probably work better. Beware, you’ll probably keep finding more and more rocks the more you disturb the soil. It’s almost like they multiply.

You mean disc harrow or disc plow... Disc harrows are pretty common & perform a similar function to a rototiller (churn & mix dirt). Disc plows are a bit uncommon & perform a function like an moldboard plow (take a strip of dirt & flip it over to kill off vegetation). After plowing has killed off the vegetation, tillage (disc harrow, etc.) Is typically required to churn & smooth the ground for a seedbed.

I agree some ripper implement (subsoiler, box blade scarfiers, chisel plow, etc.) Will probably be a better bet for pulling up, loosening & exposing rocks.

 

[bigtiller]

I have about an acer of land that I want to make into a pasture. It is really rocky with lots of big flat Rock in it. The dirt is really good and I have most of the rocks out. Some still lie beneath the surface waiting to be discovered. Would a disk plow be good for this as far as breaking up the dirt and exposing the remaining rocks?

An offset disk with 22" or bigger disk blades would be my first choice but your 4300 isn't enough tractor to pull one out of the shed so you are correct that a disk/plow would be ideal. They still make them;

TDP2 Series 2 & 3 Blade Disc Plows | Tufline

Edit: looks like Jeff types faster than me.

 

[oldnslo]

For pulling rocks I would use either a trip beam or auto reset moldboard plow or chisel plow or subsoiler with shear pins or auto reset. My experience is that discs and rocks don't mix well. Eitehr the disc rides over the large rocks or the disc blades break.

 

[sweettractors]

When I was a kid, a 2 disc plow is what we used in the same conditions you describe. The weight of the plow on two 24 or 26 inch diameter blades will turn the soil nicely and glide over the rocks with ease. If not a disc plow, then a 2 bottom plow with auto trips would be my next choice. We have a wide selection of both. Ken Sweet
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