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After a few years of foodplotting with ATV's and walkbehind equipment, I've decided that next year I am going to invest in a tractor and expand the acreage of plots that I maintain. I was hoping for some guidance in how to pick a planting method and type of tractor I'm looking to get. I am in Pennsylvania mountains with generally rocky and hilly soils with some bottom land that requires tight cornering. A fuller description of my land is below, but for those with ADD like myself, here is my questions.
I was looking into purchasing something close to a BX25D with a PTO. I'd be looking to plant the kill plots I have with rototiller (currently done with walk behind tiller). These plots are all 1/4 acre and require some sharp cornering. The areas where I have larger tracts of land on hilly ridege tops, I am am a little stumped on what to use on these harder soils. (Right now, I either have in clover or plant by killing with gly, spreading something similar to lickcreek's mix, and simply covering with a chain harrow. My seeding rates are high due to what I tend to anticipate as poor germination.) These hill tops seem like an inch or so of soil with shale underneath. My thought would be that with a tractor that a disc or rototiller would be useless. I would either be looking to do close to my same method or get a 3-5 tine cultivator and maintain the depth very shallow and do several passes.
Does anyone with similar soils have any input on their planting methods? For those that use small subcompact tractors, would a 23.0HP tractor be able to pull a cultivator through hard soil? Would it be able to do it uphill? For turning capabilities, am I kidding myself that I would be able to corner within plots that are 1/4 acre with trees and brush enclosing it on all sides?
Thanks for any input you guys might have.
My current acreage:
Investing in a tractor, I'd like to expand my acreage within the footprint I have without clearing trees and this would be my plan.
After a few years of foodplotting with ATV's and walkbehind equipment, I've decided that next year I am going to invest in a tractor and expand the acreage of plots that I maintain. I was hoping for some guidance in how to pick a planting method and type of tractor I'm looking to get. I am in Pennsylvania mountains with generally rocky and hilly soils with some bottom land that requires tight cornering. A fuller description of my land is below, but for those with ADD like myself, here is my questions.
I was looking into purchasing something close to a BX25D with a PTO. I'd be looking to plant the kill plots I have with rototiller (currently done with walk behind tiller). These plots are all 1/4 acre and require some sharp cornering. The areas where I have larger tracts of land on hilly ridege tops, I am am a little stumped on what to use on these harder soils. (Right now, I either have in clover or plant by killing with gly, spreading something similar to lickcreek's mix, and simply covering with a chain harrow. My seeding rates are high due to what I tend to anticipate as poor germination.) These hill tops seem like an inch or so of soil with shale underneath. My thought would be that with a tractor that a disc or rototiller would be useless. I would either be looking to do close to my same method or get a 3-5 tine cultivator and maintain the depth very shallow and do several passes.
Does anyone with similar soils have any input on their planting methods? For those that use small subcompact tractors, would a 23.0HP tractor be able to pull a cultivator through hard soil? Would it be able to do it uphill? For turning capabilities, am I kidding myself that I would be able to corner within plots that are 1/4 acre with trees and brush enclosing it on all sides?
Thanks for any input you guys might have.
My current acreage:
- (4) 1/4 acre plots in bottom land with somewhat loose but rocky dirt and TIGHT corners
- (2) 1/4 acre plot on a ridge top with very hard ground. (Loose inch of soil on top of shale)
- (1) 1 acre plot on a ridge top gas right of way with very hard ground. (Loose inch of soil on top of shale) very hilly
Investing in a tractor, I'd like to expand my acreage within the footprint I have without clearing trees and this would be my plan.
- Maintain - 4 1/4 acre plots in bottom land with somewhat loose but rocky dirt and TIGHT corners
- Expand to about 1 acre - 1/4 acre plot on a ridge top with very hard ground. (Loose inch of soil on top of shale)
- Expand to 2.5 acres - 1 1 acre plot on a ridge top gas right of way with very hard ground. (Loose inch of soil on top of shale) very hilly