Several offset disc questions

[hotchkiss]

I have never owned an offset disc. We have always chisel plowed then used a disc to finish with.

What are the real advantages of using an offset disc?
Would it eliminate the use of a chisel plow for corn and beans?
Wouldn't you eventually end up with a real hardpan problem - do you subsoil
to eliminate the problem?
If you use an offset to break ground in the spring, do you still have to use another harrow disc to finish the plot even before a harogator?

 

[hotchkiss]

There may not be a lot of off-set disc usere out there

 

[schmism]

I have never owned an offset disc. We have always chisel plowed then used a disc to finish with.

What are the real advantages of using an offset disc?
Would it eliminate the use of a chisel plow for corn and beans?
Wouldn't you eventually end up with a real hardpan problem - do you subsoil
to eliminate the problem?
If you use an offset to break ground in the spring, do you still have to use another harrow disc to finish the plot even before a harogator?

Ive always been told the offset will result in more dirt roll. good for rolling stubble and such especially for corn stalks.

A lot of the "real" farmers in my area with IL clay type soils still chisel every 2-3 years even when they disk each year. They still want to reach 20" deep for hardpan/compaction with the chisel.

as for your last question that usually depends on the planter guys are useing. no till drill vs min till drill vs reg planter. also depends on soil condition. If its dry they may not work it with a harrow between offset disc and haragator because they dont need to work the soil to dry it.

also depends on what your planting. I know beans like a finer seed bed than corn so they may not harrow for corn, but do for beans, even if offset discing to start for both.

 

[oldnslo]

Depends some on the soil type.

Chisel plows will lift or pull up more rocks than an offset disc will. NOTE: large rocks will break the disc blades.

Offset disc will cut and bury corn stocks better than a chisel plow.

Chisel plow will not plug as easy in wet clay or gumbo like soil.

Depending on the size of disc blades & chisel shanks, working depths can be similar between both pieces of equipment.

Anything below tillage level is being compacted regardless of type of tillage equipment.

In dairy country i saw more offset discs being used to replace mold boards while breaking up hay fields (sod) in gravely soil with smaller rocks Vs mold board or chisel due to less rocks being pulled to the surface. They turn and bury the sod better than a chisel.

offset disk and chisel usually require some type of finish pass before seeding since the surface is usually to rough to plant.

 

[art]

Depends some on the soil type.


Depending on the size of disc blades & chisel shanks, working depths can be similar between both pieces of equipment.

Anything below tillage level is being compacted regardless of type of tillage equipment.

Not intirely true here as chisels normally go a foot plus down and they do not compact soil at all if pulled at proper speeds unlike disc harrows!

Most disc harrows used in ag that we are selling today are 400lbs plus per foot and are the highest compactors of soil right with moldboard plows.
Today we watch for tractors that are to heavy as well as the machines used to till with as well as getting the crops off for excess weight that is not needed do to damage.

 

[hotchkiss]

Thanks. I Just wonder why more people don't use them as opposed to a tandom disc harrow.

 

[hotchkiss]

Even if you chisel your fields first why not go ahead and run an offset disc?
I may be wrong, but would think you would have a field that was worked up a lot better and easier overall for root development.

 

[wcilbob]

I've been primarily a no-tiller since 1984, so haven't had recent experience with an offset disc. The offset is a primary tillage tool while the tandem disc is a secondary tool. The offset will go deep and bury a lot of cornstocks. I always had problems with my offset not leaving the field level. It left a ridge on one side of the tool. If you worked the ground in "lands" like you would moldboard plow, the problem was minimized somewhat. If you just turned directly around at the ends and went back along your previous pass, you would end up with a more pronounced ridge because the ridging side mated up against itself on the way back. I don't know if that explains it welll enough or not, but that is why I sold the offset after only using it a couple of years.

 

[hotchkiss]

I've been primarily a no-tiller since 1984, so haven't had recent experience with an offset disc. The offset is a primary tillage tool while the tandem disc is a secondary tool. The offset will go deep and bury a lot of cornstocks. I always had problems with my offset not leaving the field level. It left a ridge on one side of the tool. If you worked the ground in "lands" like you would moldboard plow, the problem was minimized somewhat. If you just turned directly around at the ends and went back along your previous pass, you would end up with a more pronounced ridge because the ridging side mated up against itself on the way back. I don't know if that explains it welll enough or not, but that is why I sold the offset after only using it a couple of years.

Understood .