HE-VA Subsoiler

HE-VA Subsoiler

HEVA Subsoilers are designed for minimum draft and maximum heave without bringing large unwanted clods to the surface. They come in 4 frame sizes 3m & 3.5m rigid and 4m & 5m hydraulic folding with a number of different leg options to create the correct specification to do the best job on any individual farm.

Subsoiler 'Hammer-thru' quick-change shearbolt

The Subsoiler “Hammer Thru” quick change shear bolt system protects the machine in tough, stony conditions and means minimum down time for the operator. Its “tolerance style” shearbolt allows several resets before the need for a change.

Alternatively there is a Hydraulic Reset Subsoiler version for extremely stony conditions.

Subsoiler Hydraulic Reset

All Subsoiler models are available with hydraulic auto reset for extremely stony conditions. An individual hydraulic ram on each of the Subsoiler legs which is connected to a gas accumulator allows the leg to break back and reset if it comes into contact with an unmovable object.

As the legs on a Subsoiler are adjusted deeper, the leverage on the hydraulic reset ram increases and so a pressure gauge is used to allow the operator to set the force required for the leg to break back.

Leg & Point Design - Low draft and minimal down time

The V formation layout of the frame, angle and design of the legs ensure that HE-VA Subsoilers have a relatively low draft requirement. The points are also designed to lift and heave without huge HP requirement. A variety of points are available.The standard long life cast point has a 200mm wide wing. Hardox points are available in narrower versions at 80mm and 120mm widths and wider versions at 300mm and 350mm to suit different applications

Bolt on points using a single bolt are quickly replaced keeping down time to a minimum.

The 200mm cast steel point allows approximately 30% longer life than Hardox steel points.

Subsoiler Hydraulic Depth Control

The HE-VA Subsoiler hydraulic depth control is a useful feature making it easy for the operator to alter the working depth – for example to work the Subsoiler deeper up the tramlines or in habitually water logged areas.

It also simplifies hitching and unhitching the Subsoiler from the tractor.

Ridge Subsoiler

For use with low to higher horsepower tractors, on medium to large sized farms, the Ridge Subsoiler from HE-VA is designed to tackle the toughest challenge.

With 2 and 7 leg Subsoiler models available, offering 2.5 metre to 4 metre working widths respectively, these machines combine outstanding performance to deliver substantial productivity benefits.

Hydraulic Folding Subsoiler

For use with high horsepower tractors on larger farms, the hydraulic folding Subsoiler from HE-VA is designed to tackle the toughest challenge.

With 7 and 9 leg Subsoiler models available, offering 4 metre and 5 metre working widths respectively, these machines combine outstanding performance and mobility to deliver substantial productivity benefits.

Each of the Subsoiler models splits and folds down to a width of 2.43 metres for easy transport and access. Full lighting kits are available as an option.

Subsoiler automatic lock engaged for transport / folded mode.

Rigid Subsoiler

Hydraulic Subsoiler

Variocast Seeders

The OPICO Variocast Seeder will seed Oilseed Rape on the back of virtually any HE-VA Subsoiler and save you money. Adding a Variocast Seeder to a Subsoiler has even greater benefits.

It cuts seed rates and establishment costs whilst improving yields - utilise a Variocast to take advantage of Till-Seeding techniques and improve gross margins.

With the Subsoiler working at medium depth and the Variocast Seeder set to seed in bands behind the legs you make serious in-roads into output and cost. Furthermore the loosened sub soil promotes long, strong taproot growth.

Sowing in bands gives each plant the room to develop through better light interception, branching out and encouraging flower heads on the lateral branches as well as the main stem and overall requires less seed whilst still
attaining good yields.

Synchro Roller

The new HE-VA Synchro Roller for the Subsoiler is designed to improve germination and therefore establishment of Till-Seeded crops of Oilseed Rape. In damp conditions with friable soil germination is not a problem, however in dry Autumns where seedbeds are invariably not as kind, good consolidation is critical.

In order to germinate seeds need moisture, in the absence of actual rainfall then dew and soil moisture are the only sources. In order to ensure that this moisture reaches the seed "Soil to Seed Contact" needs to be achieved.


When soil particles are pressed together and into contact with the seed this allows capillary action to take place to move the moisture in the soil. The seed will naturally absorb moisture and swell so the moisture needs to be able to move towards the seed through consolidated soil. The areas inbetween Till-Seeded oilseed rape rows do not need to hold moisture and in fact are better off not being consolidated so that they do not promote weed and volunteer growth.

The design of the Synchro Roller utilises all these facts, the Synchro roller presses the band of soil where the seed has been planted with a rubber tyre packer but the space in between is hardly touched. The T profile rings in between the rubber tyres are of a slightly smaller diameter so they only come into work when there are large clods sitting on the surface or the field is uneven. These T profile rings do however keep clean in the wet and prevent soil building up on the roller. The Tyres are also designed to flex and keep clean so that they can work in the wet.

When using the Synchro Roller on a Subsoiler for drilling oilseed rape the weight of the whole machine and down draft from the legs is effectively applied to 40% of the working width. This more than doubles the pressure used for consolidation in the seeded area and dramatically enhances the soil to seed contact as a result. This extra consolidation means it is less critical to roll after Till-seeding the Rape although it is still recommended.

Till-Seeding

In 2005 OPICO launched the Till-Seeding concept at its Conference in Peterborough, most major UK agronomy companies now recognise Subsoiler Till-Seeding as one of the most influential changes in arable crop production in the past decade. The uptake of the concept in major arable areas is plain to see as you travel around, the vast majority of Oilseed Rape is now drilled in wide rows.

For more information on Till-Seeding methods please visit the Till-Seeding website.