Use a Subsoiler
A subsoiler is a piece of farming equipment used to till very dry and condensed soils. Crops planted in soil that is dry and condensed often fail due to inadequate nutrients and water. Understanding how to use a subsoiler to properly till soil can help you produce maximum crop growth.
Steps
- Use the subsoiler during the right seasons of the year.
- For best results, subsoilers should be used in the fall, after crops have been harvested for the year. Using a subsoiler at this season allows the fields to recover from the previous growing season, and provides adequate amounts of preparation for the spring planting.
- Examine the soil.
- While using a subsoiler on a field that is not excessively dry or compacted will not be detrimental, it can be a time-consuming process that you should avoid if it isn't necessary to complete. Before subsoiling a particular field, test the soil to determine if subsoiling is indeed necessary.
- Fields that require subsoiling not only have dry soil, but may also contain plants whose roots show impaired growth. Often, roots of plants grown in compacted or dry soil grow sideways, as soil deeper in the ground may be completely devoid of moisture and nutrients, preventing roots from growing down through it.
- Prepare the subsoiler.
- For proper function, you need to attach a subsoiler to a tractor. Depending on the models of both the subsoiler and the tractor, this process may vary dramatically. Read the owners' manual of the subsoiler to determine how it attach it to your particular brand of tractor.
- Before heading into the field, make sure that the points of the subsoiler are adjusted appropriately. Most subsoiler points are automatically set to till to around 1 to 2 inches (2.2 to 4.4 centimeters) below the compacted soil. If the soil in your field is especially compacted, you may want to adjust the points to go further into the ground.
- Depending on the field you plan to till, you may also need to adjustment the shanks. If the rows in your field are quite close, bring the shanks closer together. In contrast, if your rows are spaced out quite a bit, try separating the shanks from each other.
- Prepare the field.
- As with using other farming equipment, it is important to survey the field you plan to till before you start working in it with the subsoiler. Make sure there are no large rocks, branches, or other pieces of debris present that may potentially interfere with your machinery.
- Till the soil.
- Once the subsoiler and the fields are both prepared, you can till the soil. Get as close to the edges of the fields as possible to ensure that all of the soil is properly tilled.
Tips
- Always clean and store a subsoiler properly after use. Failure to do this can severely decrease the life expectancy of the subsoiler.
