Swapping a set of disc harrows for a high speed disc tiller has saved considerable time and improved productivity at a mixed farming operation.
Bowen, North Queensland farmer Shane Otto says he is tilling 25 hectares with a Maschio Presto speed tiller in a quarter of the time it took him to do the same work with offset disc harrows.
Growing watermelons, pumpkins and mangos on 324 hectares of grey to black loam, Mr Otto bought the four metre 3-point linkage Maschio Presto and crumble roller just a few months ago after seeing the speed tillers working on some of the bigger farms in the area.
“I needed a machine that would get over the ground quickly and deal with weeds and regrowth to stop disease.
“Before we got the Presto, I’d have had to run tynes to knock out the high weeds, but then high weeds can also knock out the tynes, so I would have to disc, and it was all taking too much time,” he said. “I’ve been getting through the work so fast with the Presto.
“It’s amazing how much work it’s saved me, not to mention the fuel. It’s much easier on the tractor too.”
Mr Otto said he covered 25 hectares with the Presto in 4.5 hours with the same work taking 16 to 18 hours with the offset discs.
“The speed tiller was going at 12- 13 km/h on a 140 hp (103 kW) tractor at 1800 - 1900 revs and did an absolutely beautiful job.
I only used about 120 litres of diesel and I would have had to fill the fuel tank twice if I’d been using the offset discs,” he said.
The Italian made machine has been designed for work on tilled soils for seedbed preparation and to incorporate crop residues.
The 460 mm discs harrow and chop, pulverise and incorporate residues at shallow depth which promotes decomposition and nutrient release without too much aggressive soil movement or compaction.
The tillage operation covers 60 per cent of residues with the remaining 40 per cent left on top to prevent erosion and improve water retention.
Mr Otto said he works at about 10 cm deep because of the light soils, which is enough to hook under the weed growth, rip it out and kill it, without causing too much soil disturbance.
“The Presto breaks down clods in the black soil and incorporates heavy growth in pretty ordinary conditions.”