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NEW GRASSLAND SUBSOILER HELPS MAINTAIN PRODUCTIVITY - Sward Lifter

The new grassland subsoiler was shown for the first time by OPICO on the stand at the ScotGrass Event held at the Scottish Agricultural College, Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries on May 15th 2007.

The Sward Lifter is designed to break up pans and surface compaction while lifting and opening up the subsoil for improved aeration and drainage.

Important features of the grassland subsoiler are the spring loaded cutting discs that cut through the sward to prevent soil bursting on to the surface.

Shear-bolt protected leg that breaks back to prevent damage. (see left and right)

Spring-loaded press rollers that close the slots and level the surface. (see right)

The Sward Lifter grassland subsoiler is available in two widths: 2.7m with 3 tines, suitable for tractors of 100hp or more; and 3m with 5 tines, with a tractor hp requirement of at least 125.

Poor drainage

Commenting on the launch, OPICO managing director James Woolway said that through their work on grassland with harrows and seeders, OPICO had identified that one factor preventing many swards being more productive was poor drainage.

“Many farms, even if they plough and re-seed regularly, have a problem with soil becoming compacted through traffic at silaging, livestock damage, and through the weather capping and sealing the soil surface.

“The problem manifests itself during the winter with waterlogging that causes poor crop growth.  Also, many productive grasses are killed off whilst indigenous grasses are able to survive and re-populate swards.

“The results are degeneration of the sward quality and therefore value of the sward,” he said.

Waterlogging, he added, also meant that the ground was too wet for spring operations such as slurry and muck spreading, harrowing, fertilising and overseeding, and livestock could not be put out to graze.  This affected forage requirements and productivity.

Borders farmer impressed

Trials with the 2.7m 3-tine grassland subsoiler unit early last Autumn impressed Robert Parrish, who farms a 500-acre sheep unit at Hassendean Burn Farm, Hawick, in partnership with his father, Deryk.

“We had 25 acres that had been compacted from where we had cut silage and on headlands where we had run a lot of animals. The grass looked pretty stale and wasn’t growing well.

“We subsoiled certain pieces with the Sward Lifter and it has just let the water through.  You could see a real difference through the winter – the ground has been a lot more free-draining. 

“We were quite concerned when we started that the machine would leave a bit of a mess. But with the system of having the cutting disc at the front to cut the turf and the presses at the back, it made a superb job.  Now, five months on, you can just see where you’ve cut the slit but there’s no bump left.  You can drive across the field where you’ve worked and its left an excellent job.

“Because we are going down the organic route, one of my main concerns about re-seeded grass is the weed infestation once you’ve ploughed it over.  That’s why I think this would be an excellent opportunity, rather than start afresh by ploughing, to go in with the Sward Lifter, then harrow it twice to rip out any old grass and open up the sward, and then over-sow with grass.  It is something we will definitely try.”

Sward Lifter Grassland Subsoiler video click here!