What is the purpose of subsoiling?

“Subsoiling” is a soil management strategy commonly used by farmers to minimize soil compaction and maximize crop production, but also has applications when managing quality food plots for wildlife.

Why is subsoil important for agriculture?

Their burrows enhance soil aeration and soil fertility. The burrow linings thrive with microbial activity. Once the soil passes through a worm’s digestive tract, the castings will be much higher in nutrients such as phosphorous and potassium than the nearby undigested soil.

What is the use of subsoiler 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.

Should I use a subsoiler?

A subsoiler is a useful tool to have when you have a patch of hardpan on your terrain that water won’t drain through and you need to eliminate a big puddle. Hardpan refers to soil compaction that lies between the topsoil and the subsoil. It’s a potentially limiting factor when it comes to crop production.

What is the use of Rotavator in agriculture?

Rotavator is a tractor-drawn implement which is mainly used for seed bed preparation within one or two passes and is suitable in removing & mixing residual of maize, wheat, sugarcane etc., thereby, helps to improve soil health and save fuel, cost, time & energy as well.

Will a subsoiler help with drainage?

If you have a patch of hardpan on your place and need to eliminate standing water, you might try using a subsoiler. It’s a great tool for helping it drain properly. Standing water is often the result of having hard, compacted soil that probably has a lot of clay in it.

What is subsoil in agriculture?

Subsoiling is defined as non-inversion tillage below a depth of 14 inches [1]. Figure 6.1 shows an example of an agricultural implement that has been used for uniform disturbance of a soil profile to depths of 14–20 inches.

Can you grow grass in subsoil?

The subsoil beneath the loose, nutrient-rich layer of topsoil doesn’t usually hold moisture or nutrients well. It may suffer from poor aeration, which prevents the roots from accessing oxygen, or it may be heavy in clay, rocks or salts that can damage or slow grass growth.

What is the difference between a subsoiler and a plow?

A plow will turn over soil, bringing lower soil (and the nutrients within) upwards. A subsoiler breaks up/loosens the soil deeper down.

How deep should a subsoiler go?

Subsoiling should be done no deeper than 1-2 inches below the compacted soil zone, and never based on available tractor horsepower or the maximum depth a tillage tool can go.

What are the benefits of a rotavator?

A rotavator breaks up the soil in a border so that anything planted can grow better. The process of breaking up soil churns and aerates the soil, making it a richer environment for plants.

What are the advantages of rotavator?

Rotavator is a tillage machine designed for preparing land suitable for sowing seeds. It offers a benefit of rapid seedbed preparation and reduced draft compared to conventional tillage. It saved 30 to 35 % of the time and 20 to 25 % in the cost of operation as compared to tillage by the cultivator.