A subsoiler or flat lifter is a tractor-mounted farm implement used for deep tillage, loosening and breaking up soil at depths below the levels worked by moldboard ploughs, disc harrows, or rototillers. Most such tools will break up and turn over surface soil to a depth of 15–20 cm (6–8 in), whereas a subsoiler will break up and loosen soil to twice those depths.
Howse brand modular subsoiler mounted to a tractorModular subsoiler unit, unmounted with accessories
The subsoiler is a tillage tool which will improve growth in all crops where soil compaction is a problem. In agriculture angled wings are used to lift and shatter the hardpan that builds up due to compaction. The design provides deep tillage, loosening soil deeper than a tiller or plough is capable of reaching. Agricultural subsoilers, according to the Unverferth Company, can disrupt hardpan ground down to 60 cm (24 in) depths.[1][2]
The subsoiler consists of three or more heavy vertical shanks (standards) mounted on a toolbar or frame with shear bolts. They can be operated at depths of 45–75 cm (18–30 in) or more. A ripper normally runs 35–45 cm (14–18 in) deep. Shanks are curved and have replaceable tips. Each shank is fitted with a replaceable point or foot, similar to a chisel plough, to break through the impervious layer, shattering the sub-soil to a depth of 45–75 cm (18–30 in). Subsoiling is a slow operation and requires high power input: 60 to 100 horsepower (45 to 75 kW) to pull a single subsoil point through a hard soil. Typically, a subsoiler mounted on a compact utility tractor will reach depths of about 30 cm (12 in) and have only one thin blade with a sharpened tip. The shanks should be inclined to the vertical at an angle greater than 25-30 degrees, preferably 45 degrees, and it is advisable that the height be adjustable. The points of the shanks are normally about 30 cm (12 in) wide and should be easy to replace. The condition of the points is very important: often the subsoiler fails to give good results due to the condition of its points. Points can be fitted with horizontal wings, about 30 cm (12 in) wide, which considerably increases the width of soil below ploughing depth loosened by the subsoiler. These plows are sometimes equipped with a torpedo-shaped attachment for making subsurface drainage channels. The subsoilers are raised and lowered hydraulically. Some models feature power-take-off (PTO)-driven vibrating devices. The typical spacing is 76–100 cm (30–39 in) between shanks. Shanks should be able to reach 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) below the deepest compacted layer. Shank spacing and height should be adjustable in the field. Towed subsoilers should have gauge wheels to control the shank's depth.
Shanks usually are from 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) thick. Thinner shanks are suited for agricultural use. Thicker shanks hold up better in rocky conditions, but require larger, more powerful equipment to pull them and disturb the surface more.
Various manufacturers' brochures claim[citation needed] that crops perform well during hot and dry seasons because roots penetrate soil layers deeper to reach moisture and nutrients. Brochures further claim that in wet conditions, the water passes more easily through the shattered areas, reducing the possibility of crops drowning.
Agricultural subsoiler implements will have multiple deeper-reaching blades; each blade is called a scarifier or shank. Purdue University's Department of Agriculture indicates that common subsoilers for agricultural use are available with three, five or seven shanks. Subsoilers can be up to 15 feet (4.6 m) wide; some models are towed behind tractors while others are mounted to the three-point hitch.[3]
One type of subsoiler has a torpedo-shaped tip and is called a mole plough because the tip describes a path much like the burrow that a mole creates. Mole ploughs are used to create tile drainage, with or without tiles or tile line added. A form of this implement (with a single blade), a pipe-and-cable-laying plough, is used to lay buried cables or pipes, without the need to dig a deep trench and re-fill it.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Subsoilers.
^Brent Tremor Agricultural Subsoilers 2006-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
^. Archived from the original on 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2015-04-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Purdue Ag Equipment Sizes & Storage 2007-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
February 16, 2024
subsoiler, mole, plough, redirects, here, device, used, cable, laying, pipe, cable, laying, plough, subsoiler, flat, lifter, tractor, mounted, farm, implement, used, deep, tillage, loosening, breaking, soil, depths, below, levels, worked, moldboard, ploughs, d. Mole plough redirects here For the device used in cable laying see Pipe and cable laying plough A subsoiler or flat lifter is a tractor mounted farm implement used for deep tillage loosening and breaking up soil at depths below the levels worked by moldboard ploughs disc harrows or rototillers Most such tools will break up and turn over surface soil to a depth of 15 20 cm 6 8 in whereas a subsoiler will break up and loosen soil to twice those depths Howse brand modular subsoiler mounted to a tractorModular subsoiler unit unmounted with accessoriesThe subsoiler is a tillage tool which will improve growth in all crops where soil compaction is a problem In agriculture angled wings are used to lift and shatter the hardpan that builds up due to compaction The design provides deep tillage loosening soil deeper than a tiller or plough is capable of reaching Agricultural subsoilers according to the Unverferth Company can disrupt hardpan ground down to 60 cm 24 in depths 1 2 The subsoiler consists of three or more heavy vertical shanks standards mounted on a toolbar or frame with shear bolts They can be operated at depths of 45 75 cm 18 30 in or more A ripper normally runs 35 45 cm 14 18 in deep Shanks are curved and have replaceable tips Each shank is fitted with a replaceable point or foot similar to a chisel plough to break through the impervious layer shattering the sub soil to a depth of 45 75 cm 18 30 in Subsoiling is a slow operation and requires high power input 60 to 100 horsepower 45 to 75 kW to pull a single subsoil point through a hard soil Typically a subsoiler mounted on a compact utility tractor will reach depths of about 30 cm 12 in and have only one thin blade with a sharpened tip The shanks should be inclined to the vertical at an angle greater than 25 30 degrees preferably 45 degrees and it is advisable that the height be adjustable The points of the shanks are normally about 30 cm 12 in wide and should be easy to replace The condition of the points is very important often the subsoiler fails to give good results due to the condition of its points Points can be fitted with horizontal wings about 30 cm 12 in wide which considerably increases the width of soil below ploughing depth loosened by the subsoiler These plows are sometimes equipped with a torpedo shaped attachment for making subsurface drainage channels The subsoilers are raised and lowered hydraulically Some models feature power take off PTO driven vibrating devices The typical spacing is 76 100 cm 30 39 in between shanks Shanks should be able to reach 2 5 5 cm 1 2 in below the deepest compacted layer Shank spacing and height should be adjustable in the field Towed subsoilers should have gauge wheels to control the shank s depth Shanks usually are from 2 4 cm 0 8 1 6 in thick Thinner shanks are suited for agricultural use Thicker shanks hold up better in rocky conditions but require larger more powerful equipment to pull them and disturb the surface more Various manufacturers brochures claim citation needed that crops perform well during hot and dry seasons because roots penetrate soil layers deeper to reach moisture and nutrients Brochures further claim that in wet conditions the water passes more easily through the shattered areas reducing the possibility of crops drowning Agricultural subsoiler implements will have multiple deeper reaching blades each blade is called a scarifier or shank Purdue University s Department of Agriculture indicates that common subsoilers for agricultural use are available with three five or seven shanks Subsoilers can be up to 15 feet 4 6 m wide some models are towed behind tractors while others are mounted to the three point hitch 3 One type of subsoiler has a torpedo shaped tip and is called a mole plough because the tip describes a path much like the burrow that a mole creates Mole ploughs are used to create tile drainage with or without tiles or tile line added A form of this implement with a single blade a pipe and cable laying plough is used to lay buried cables or pipes without the need to dig a deep trench and re fill it See also editPlough Chisel plough Bulldozer ripper List of agricultural machineryReferences editThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Subsoiler news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Subsoilers Brent Tremor Agricultural Subsoilers Archived 2006 11 10 at the Wayback Machine Archived copy Archived from the original on 2015 04 13 Retrieved 2015 04 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Purdue Ag Equipment Sizes amp Storage Archived 2007 04 19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Subsoiler amp oldid 1135549729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
