Plough or disc?

morphy87

I’m thinking of doing some reseeding in maybe a month, I’m just wondering what would people recommend,plough or disc? It’s good level land, a touch heavy, stones won’t be an issue

So which method would be the better of the two?

Also if I sowed it say around the 20th of August when should I be aiming to graze it again?

memorystick

If you’re stone free plough and get level. Break the skull as well.

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120860800#Comment_120860800

It’s fairly level as it is but what do you mean by breaking the skull?

Mooooo

Heavy ground I'd always plough, would aid in drainage as well. Disced heavy ground once before, never again

memorystick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120860869#Comment_120860869

Break the pan underneath. The ground might have a hard layer below and a good ploughing might help with drainage

queueeye

You're very unlikely to break the pan with just a conventional plough even if it's bone dry.

I'd never again plough good level ground for re seeding. Too much expense and work to get it back level and smooth again. Discing just an inch or two is far quicker and way less hassle.

When you'll have it ready to graze will have a lot to do with your soil fertility and weather conditions post sowing.

Reggie.

If its level and good ground you only need to disc. If its ploughed wrong it will be a disaster to get right again.

If uou plough you will loosen the soil and it could take a year or more for the field to settle again. What I mean is that the soil will take in every drop of rain and hold it. So field could be hard travelled or easily poached for a while after.

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120860881#Comment_120860881

What issues had you with the disced?

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861386#Comment_120861386

how could the field be ploughed wrong?

morphy87

I presume one benefit of ploughing is that you can start working quicker after the spray, is it 5 days after spray you can start ploughing?

Mooooo

Just over half the farm here would be heavy, highish water table and plenty rain. The field we disced couldn't take thr rainfall and has a pan after forming since, whereas fields we plough always seem to cope better. Obv sorting drainage is the first port of call in these cases. If there's no stones plough and a couple runs of the leveller would have a field ready in no time. If working in dung plough is easier as well as you would need more runs of the disc. Stones are the bastard.

Up to yourself really. Be no harm to make sure spray has killed everything before starting anyway esp if putting in clover after, best chance to do a job on weeds/ old grasses

morphy87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861849#Comment_120861849

What type of grass seed do you use and how much and what type of fertilizer? The last time we used 10 10 20 at a rate of 3 bags to the acre

mahoney_j

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058305346/plough-or-disc

If your in dero you can’t plough

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861728#Comment_120861728

Bad ploughman.

Hasn't the plough set right or level can leave the runs uneven.

Local ploughman here retired this year. Serious loss as he was gifted

locha

Raising this thread. Have 25 acres to reseed (when things pick up). A purchase last year. The field is flat and easy to drive over. There was a matt of old dead grass on it at the back end. Left 40 odd cattle out to eat/walk it into the ground - which they did and it’s now very poached. Any advice on whether a disc will work on poached land or would I be better with a power harrow? Am avoiding ploughing.

Reggie.

Just disc and powerharrow

kevthegaff

Stoney ground here, all power Harrow these days

older by the day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121963755#Comment_121963755

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121963775#Comment_121963775

Interesting. I have a few silage fields later in the year to freshen up. I am not ploughing as it has loads of stones and light drains.

Would a couple of runs of the power Harrow , just after cutting be the easiest. I don't have either a P.H or disc. I have a plough and a land leveller but this is virtually a quarry.

Castlekeeper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121964060#Comment_121964060

Depending on the soil, the power harrow option can leave the top 4"very mushy due to creating a separate layer structure and the decomposition of the old sod. You might be better off spraying and stitching, there's some great drills around now.

Bangoverthebar

I reseeded 40 acres last year, direct drill, worked 100%

Cavanjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121964168#Comment_121964168

I disked and power harrowed 3 years ago and I thought the field was wetter than before but thought it was in my head. Maybe this was the problem.

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121966175#Comment_121966175

I often wondered about a pull of a mole plough or sub soiler before discing might help

older by the day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121964206#Comment_121964206

What did you do/use, what type of grass seed, did you spray off

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121964168#Comment_121964168

What drills have you found good? Are you saying spray with glyphosate, spread lime and then stitch in seed?

locha

what application rate per acre do you use for the burn off?

Castlekeeper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121973369#Comment_121973369

Yes that's it, but no more spraying off for me,I'm organic now. I've had good results from the Guttler and the Erth drills, and have seen good results from the Achison also, all contractors machines. There's the Moore drill also and probably others too.

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121975805#Comment_121975805

How bare does the field need to be for the drill?

DJ98

Have a 10 acre field here that was used to winter the ewes and its in pure sh#te now and will be reseeded as soon as the weather takes. It old grassland that wouldn't have been reseeded in the last 25 years and would be lacking quite a bit. Would it be better to sow a catch crop in this field this year and reseed next with grass or go straight back into grass? If reseeding this year could gran lime be sowed with it to help with the pH and then spread ground lime at a later stage the same year or wait until the following? F

Castlekeeper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121977195#Comment_121977195

As bare as possible in my experience, otherwise you'll be gathering dead grass and thrash in front of the drill.

Castlekeeper

Unless your into tillage I'd just work away with grass, what you're saying about the bag lime would work if you couldn't get bulk lime in straight away.

Given that it's old ground and there's a fair amount of sheep shite on it after the winter it mightnt be lacking much at all. Ploughed ground,intensively farmed with heavy crops of silage taken off it might be a more depleted.