How much dirt can be moved by a heavy harrow, or are they only for trash? If they are set aggressively enough, will they level a no-till field? Will they do any damage to chunks of sod, or clumps of clay?
Recently started trying direct seeding, really made the plunge this year when it was so dry, doing almost all the acres that weren't full of ruts from last year. But after so many wet years, the fields are extremely rough. Would like to find a way to level them without full tillage. I left all acres un worked last fall to be able to to a pre seed burn down to control quackgrass etc that was taking over in the non stop mud in recent years, with the intention that I could then work any rough or soddy ground this spring. Decided against sacrificing any more moisture to tillage when it refused to rain. Also have some extremely tough hay sods in places, too small to disc, but just refuse to break down on their own, some are celebrating their 4th birthday. And when wet turns to dry such as this, my most productive clay turns to lumps the size of basketballs.
I only use diamond harrows currently, as light duty tine harrows tend to self destruct in these conditions. I try to harrow as a stand alone operation as little as possible, as the compaction from an extra set of wheel tracks on wet ground is rarely worth the benefit. This year being an exception where compaction is not an issue. The diamond harrows move very little dirt in a stubble field, and are nearly useless against the lumps this year.
Do you only use a heavy harrow for spreading trash, or do they accomplish any minor tillage/weeding?
Will a heavy harrow move any dirt, other uses?
Recently started trying direct seeding, really made the plunge this year when it was so dry, doing almost all the acres that weren't full of ruts from last year. But after so many wet years, the fields are extremely rough. Would like to find a way to level them without full tillage. I left all acres un worked last fall to be able to to a pre seed burn down to control quackgrass etc that was taking over in the non stop mud in recent years, with the intention that I could then work any rough or soddy ground this spring. Decided against sacrificing any more moisture to tillage when it refused to rain. Also have some extremely tough hay sods in places, too small to disc, but just refuse to break down on their own, some are celebrating their 4th birthday. And when wet turns to dry such as this, my most productive clay turns to lumps the size of basketballs.
I only use diamond harrows currently, as light duty tine harrows tend to self destruct in these conditions. I try to harrow as a stand alone operation as little as possible, as the compaction from an extra set of wheel tracks on wet ground is rarely worth the benefit. This year being an exception where compaction is not an issue. The diamond harrows move very little dirt in a stubble field, and are nearly useless against the lumps this year.
Do you only use a heavy harrow for spreading trash, or do they accomplish any minor tillage/weeding?
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