Bottom Plows

[HenryFan]

I am considering purchasing a bottom plow to turn soil in food plots but I have no experience of any sort with bottom plows. I am trying to find the right combination of bottom plow and tractor to make the use of the bottom plow stress-free. My food plots are red clay and they can set up hard as a cast-iron frying pan in the summer when it doesn't rain. I currently use a chisel plow to break the soil before using a disc harrow but I would like to turn the soil more.

My question to those of you who are familiar with bottom plows is this: How much horsepower is needed to pull a single bottom plow or a two bottom plow in hard clay? My tractors are 4WD. The lightest tractor is a 24 HP tractor with R4 tires (industrial tread tires), the next is a 32 HP tractor with R1 tires (Ag tires) and the third is a 42 HP tractor with R1 tires. Of these tractors, the two I would most likely use are the 24 HP tractor or the 32 HP tractor. Also, these HP rating are at the flywheel, not at the PTO.

Will the 24 HP tractor with R4 tires pull a single bottom plow? I think that R4 tires may not be in my favor as far as traction but the rear tires are ballasted.

I speculate the 32 HP tractor will easily pull a single bottom plow but is pulling a two bottom plow asking a bit too much of this tractor?

What should someone look for when buying bottom plows?

I hope some of you folks can give some guidance so thanks in advance.

[rickhem]

I can't help much here, but I'm interested in what the responses teach us.
I have a 37hp tractor, that delivers 30hp to the PTO. I don't think the PTO rating matters when you're just pulling something, and not powering it.
I'd like to get my tires filled too, what did you use to load yours?

[HenryFan]

Rick -

I don't know. They were ballasted when delivered from the stealership.

I speculate that the ballast in the JD 3043D is either RimGuard or windshild wiper fluid. When I check the tire pressure, the spurt of liquid that comes out is sort of a purple color.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Bottom plows WILL NOT work in hard clay.........They will ride up and over instead of digging in.......What you need is a PTO powered rotary tiller......I have clay in places so I know..........A rotary tiller will turn the ground soft to a depth of 6 inches or so....Iffen the clay isn't like rock....At HIGH RPM and SLOW ground speed.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Bottom plows WILL NOT work in hard clay.........They will ride up and over instead of digging in.......What you need is a PTO powered rotary tiller......I have clay in places so I know..........A rotary tiller will turn the ground soft to a depth of 6 inches or so....Iffen the clay isn't like rock....At HIGH RPM and SLOW ground speed.

BTW I filled my JD tires(front and back) water and antifreeze

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Bottom plows WILL NOT work in hard clay.........They will ride up and over instead of digging in.......What you need is a PTO powered rotary tiller......I have clay in places so I know..........A rotary tiller will turn the ground soft to a depth of 6 inches or so....Iffen the clay isn't like rock....At HIGH RPM and SLOW ground speed. Iffen it IS liken rock I suggest adding top soil.

BTW I filled my JD tires(front and back) water and antifreeze

[HenryFan]

Happy Kaboomer -

I don't think that is a viable option for me, far too many rocks in the field. Plus, they are expensive.

[daytime dave]

I use a Farmall Cub to plow mostly. It has a single bottom plow and is around 10 HP. It's an antique, but well suited for the job.


I also have used a Brinly garden tractor plow on the back of my 28 HP Mahindra. I used a sleeve hitch adapter for the three point hitch. My father used the same set up at his place. I have used it effectively behind my Craftsman 18 HP garden tractor too. The ground needs to be fairly soft for the garden tractor to turn the dirt over. I don't think it would do well in clay.

I'd stay away from a two bottom plow. Clay is tough. Dad's place had lots of clay. He did ok with the set up I described above from time to time. He usually worked it up with a disc.

I like plowing with the Cub and discing with the Mahindra.