Aerating

Turkey7530

Was thinking of buying an aerator for a small bit of my own work and a small bit of contract work.
I'd look to go after a 6ft one, what sort of depth should The spikes get down to ?
I have done my research and in the right soil type it can save up to 50kg per acre of nitrates. Other benefits like reducing compaction and draining etc etc
Is there a reason why not much people get it done, I'm in Wicklow and I can't think of anybody who has an aerator handy.
Thought there might be a bit of a demand around here if you put the word out and people knew what the benefits of it were
Anyone with any bits of info, pros/cons or any operator experience would be appreciated ðŸ‘ðŸ»

aboutblank

Got some done about 3 years ago. The best of it was just about ok however there was really bad wet weather after one field was done and it turned it into a swamp for a while. See it lying in the owners yard rusting away in the nettles.

lakill Farm

Turkey7530 wrote: »

Was thinking of buying an aerator for a small bit of my own work and a small bit of contract work.
I'd look to go after a 6ft one, what sort of depth should The spikes get down to ?
I have done my research and in the right soil type it can save up to 50kg per acre of nitrates. Other benefits like reducing compaction and draining etc etc
Is there a reason why not much people get it done, I'm in Wicklow and I can't think of anybody who has an aerator handy.
Thought there might be a bit of a demand around here if you put the word out and people knew what the benefits of it were
Anyone with any bits of info, pros/cons or any operator experience would be appreciated ðŸ‘ðŸ»

10ft one here. it takes 80hp to pull it as I have about 400/500kg ballast on it plus weight of machine.

Keepgrowing

What results does it give? Any extra tonnes grown or just an exercise

I can't see the benefit of it as most compaction is too deep for it to have any effect

lakill Farm

Keepgrowing wrote: »

What results does it give? Any extra tonnes grown or just an exercise

I can't see the benefit of it as most compaction is too deep for it to have any effect

I don't grass measure, but definitely quicker uptake of slurry and fert. I test stripped a field and neighbour asked what happened the half that wasn't done.

patsy_mccabe

Could see how they would benefit a playing pitch with a couple of inches of topsoil over a sand base. The slots would allow drainage down to the sand. As for farming land , I can't see any benefits.
Have Teagasc ever done trials on them?

mycro2013

The system used by golf courses is the one I'd try to replicate as it doesn't disrupt the surface as much as the Armstrong and bridgeway systems. Plus with the former alot of lads are using them at the wrong time of year. Using an aerator like the Armstrong at the start of the year with the promise of aerating and breaking the handpan is nonsense on the manufacturers and contractors side.

lakill Farm

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Could see how they would benefit a playing pitch with a couple of inches of topsoil over a sand base. The slots would allow drainage down to the sand. As for farming land , I can't see any benefits.
Have Teagasc ever done trials on them?

my aerator penetrates a minimum of 8 inch and mostly 12 inches but you need the 400/600kg weight plus the machine otherwise it would just bounce along the scraw
(keep the dirty remarks to yourselves )

satstheway

lakill Farm wrote: »

my aerator penetrates a minimum of 8 inch and mostly 12 inches but you need the 400/600kg weight plus the machine otherwise it would just bounce along the scraw
(keep the dirty remarks to yourselves )

What make of aetator goes 12" deep?

lakill Farm

satstheway wrote: »

What make of aetator goes 12" deep?

I got a crew in the north to make it and galvanised

larthehar

lakill Farm wrote: »

I got a crew in the north to make it and galvanised

Any chance of a pic? I was thinking of making my own and was wondering about the depth issue.. i'd be an 8-12in man myself!