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Central MN | In General, when having trouble with plugging and residue clumps after a tillage operation such as a Feild Cultivator, would the main problem be related to "sizing" of the residue (ie Rye Straw)?
Currently running a White 445 disc chisel (front disc coulters are concave and do agressive discing). Then follow with a field cultivator with 7# sweeps and a 3 bar harrow behind. Results this year where MANY plug ups and rough piles. Too rough to plant so had to either run Roll Packer or cover again with FC to correct.
NOTE: The double disc openers on the drill have no trouble with the residue and we pull a culti-packer behind as well for seedbed firmness. Works VERY well. so main concern is feild smoothness not amount of residue for planting.
Would Discing first to size the tall stubble be the answer, or would a heavy harrow or tool such as a Summer Super Coulter be the answer, or do I need to run the heavy harrow AFTER the FC? (would rather not have to purchase a lot more tillage equipment as I can buy a lot of fuel for additional passes for what they get for iron these days).
Currently have:
Tandem Disc
Disc Chisel (this tool is currently getting a gang of disc blades added to the rear also to counter the soil being pushed "outward" by the front concave discs).
Field Cultivator (with rear harrow)
Large Roller Packer (available rental)
Spike Tooth Harrow/Drag
Maybe a heavier harrow on back of FC? or remove mounted harrow and pull a heavy harrow behind it? Also, a lot of the land was worked a bit on the dry side this year and our soil is light. It seems to flow through the equipment better when its a little wet rather than bone dry.
Days when we moldboard plowed this was never a problem. Father thinks going to Chisel plow is "going backwards" and after bumping accross the fields this fall I'm starting to wonder if he's right.
Not looking forward to harvest next summer (its gonna be a bumpy ride folks).
Thanks for any advice.
Edited by MNRyeGrower 9/26/2008 15:00
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General Residue Question
