V ditch trench impelement?

[ScottAR]

npaden, The attachment you posted is used for knocking down rice levees.
After planting rice, a levee "plow" (aka levee disc) makes a ^ shaped levee for irrigation.
The device cuts more or less level with the ground so the levee will be flat for post-harvest disking.

I'm not sure it would dig much of a ditch.

 

[darkviper]

the soultion is acually very simple. First you would use the middle buster(potato plow) to start the trench. then either follow up with a box blade all though it would be perferable to use a 6 way rear blade angled to throw the dirt to one side and have it pitched to the agle you need the V on the ditch. i do it this way all the time. it takes no time especially with a quick attach. Most of us here already have the tools so you dont need to buy any thing else uless you just have a lot to spend then you can buy the special tool since i am a toolaholic i would have to buy a ditch tool myself if i really had the need for it

 

[rdln]

the two v ditchers that npaden posted are alost identical to what they use here for doing what harleybob wants to do. Just b4 planting the farmer takes a 50- 100hp tractor cuts a wide shallow ditch from the lowest areas toward the closest main ditch just to accelerate drainage.

by shortening the top link you should be able to get the desired dimensions of a ditch using this type.

some farmers also use a heavy power angle rear blade tilted to one side and forward

tried to do a search for a pic but had no success

 

[RobJ]

I have a couple of friends using a rotary ditcher to drain fields.
TriCorp USA - Ditchers - Specialists in agricultural equipment.

One advantage of this type of ditcher is that it slings the soil away from the ditch; you indicated that you wanted the soil piled at the sides of the ditch to backfill easily later? Wouldn't that prevent the water from moving into the ditch easily?

Ahhh, this is what the county uses at our weekend place. I've seen the result but never the machine.

I think trying to refill the ditch every year would be useless. You can never refill and get the compaction and grade that was there before without bringing in more dirt. A proper low water type ditch will eventually fill with grass and continue to move the water for years to come.

Good Luck!

 

[npaden]

npaden, The attachment you posted is used for knocking down rice levees.
After planting rice, a levee "plow" (aka levee disc) makes a ^ shaped levee for irrigation.
The device cuts more or less level with the ground so the levee will be flat for post-harvest disking.

I'm not sure it would dig much of a ditch.

Seems odd that I've seen them being used to do exactly that. Also seems odd that they are called ditchers if they can't dig a ditch?

In use the top link is very short and the V is almost standing straight up depending on how deep and wide you are digging. They don't skid along on the ground horizontally. They are being primarily used on fields though, not hard packed ground.

 

[RobJ]

Seems odd that I've seen them being used to do exactly that. Also seems odd that they are called ditchers if they can't dig a ditch?

In use the top link is very short and the V is almost standing straight up depending on how deep and wide you are digging. They don't skid along on the ground horizontally. They are being primarily used on fields though, not hard packed ground.

Looking at the location of the lift arms it seems they would go into the ground a foot or more. Also looks like a bigger tractor would be needed, especially in virgin soil.

 

[bigballer]

I recall a thread a few weeks back about someone using a subsoiler to dig drainage ditches. I am planning on buying one soon to help control runoff from the hill above. I also have some garden plots spec'd out that are now grass areas. I think running the subsoiler over the area to break up the virgin soil would allow for easier tilling..

cheers,
bigballer

 

[Casey1]

You might also try something like this from Tractor Supply. Thinking about using one to dig a ditch myself. I want to lay some some drain pipe and then cover it up. Might be less expensive.

Tractor Supply Company - KING KUTTER® MIDDLE BUSTER

I need to dig some small drainage ditches myself and that looks perfect for the job. If I needed to make it larger I could follow up with the boxblade. For $112.31 the price is right.

 

[BTDT]

bump...

 

[SGBotsford]

Long term you probably want to put in weeping tile.

Another long term solution may be to put in wide shallow ditches. (swales) We see a lot of these here. About 20 feet wide, but only a foot deep, running through the natural low spots. They are left untilled, although many farmers will cut and bale the grass that grows. This drains the field, but doesn't erode.