I think I answered a similar post you had. Thatch. The seed has to make it's way to the soil. Tillage turn the thatch in the ground. Cultipackers help push it int othe thatch layer or push the thatch in the soil some. MY opinion there's 2 kinds of cultipackers. Lighter ones that help procide good seed to soil contact on tilled or lighter soils. No till in clay, you need a heavier cultipacker. Cold be as easy as adding weight, or need one with larger wheels, heavier diameter shaft, good bearings. The concrete filled ones made from culvert pipes are pretty good.
Working with thatch, you can get a drag harrow. It stirs up that thatch and works your seed into the soil. Tire drags don't stir the seed into the thatch that well. However, putting a tire ontop of the harrow makes the tetth work harder if needed. IT can depend on what is growing there. Some stuff is bulky sized leaves / stems. Some stuff compost quicker. Other stuff can be real fine and be a bit tough to get the seed down enough. Could just be too much of it there. Either the seed doesn't get down low, or the young plant can't grow enough to make it past it. Light rain vs heavy rain can help out too. Of course the dead stuff keeps moisture on the top soil layer. It can be a 2 edged sword.
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Some no till seeds are easier than others. IT doesn't get easier than rye, turnips and some brassicas like daikon raddish are good. Some seeds are nautally very small, so tillage can be hurtful. Like clover. LAdino, medium red, and dutch clover works good.
IF you got the acerage, basic nothing to brag about food plot provide alot more than some shrubs and fruit trees. Minor oak tree maintance, like clearing competiton is another big bang for the buck.
Several years I did a foodplot with just a weedwhacker. I got an ATV, sprayer, cultipacker, lawn roller, discs, and spring tine harrows. Discs are nice for some minimum tillage in clay. Throw the big seeds down, run the dics once maybe twice Then throw the small seeds over it, ten cultipack, drag something like a log or tires, or run the heck out of it with your ATV wheels. I do something similar with my spring harrows and ATV wheels. I got a 1/2 ton truck and a 6x12 enclosed trailer that can only hold maybe 1100lbs, so I can't bring every tool I got. Also got a tow behind mower. Easily my most used implement. I also maintain a few miles of snowmobile trails and a few camper spots at my camp. Sometimes have parties with 3 or 4 campers and 2 or 3 tents onyop of the 20x20 cabin stuffed with people sleeping in there.
If you get the discs, you cna make a wooden box around the discs and add a 12v spreader. The box keeps the seed right on the discs. You can even add some plywood louvers to get the seed right into the the line of soil on the disc. Almost like a funnel. My coworker hot rodded a set of 6ft discs for his tractor. Works good enough He passed up on getting a seed drill. He also added a set of tire to the discs, so they dont dig too deep, much like a depth setting on a seed drill. The same disc will dig differently based on time of year ,soil moisture, or on different soils. Some guys have one tye on the hill and another type by creek beds. Or, like me clay at home sandy at camp.
Tractors don't quite save you time, they make you do more things. Definitely worth it though. Not everyboy needs 4wd or alot of goodies for them. Basic ones can be just fine.
We have several members who put out several acres of quality food with just an ATV and some basic
