Deep Subsoiling
In these days of deep mintil cultivations, the office received an enquiry for what has become an unusual operation. Over a period of months, a large mains water pipe supplying Reading had been leaking. The wheat crop had been waterlogged for most of the growing year, despite low rainfall. The soil structure on a number of acres had slumped. Having repaired the pipe, it was concluded that to correct the structure it would need subsoiling to 20 inches deep over the existing drainage system after harvest. Hopefully this would rectify the matter. The first attempt used a 200+ horsepower wheeled tractor and a single leg subsoiler. Unfortunately, this could only manage 14 inches deep before soil overcame wheels, and the progress forwards stopped. It was now late September: could heavier equipment be found before autumn rains halted the work for winter? A local ring member had the machinery but not the availability – likewise a non-member.
Fortunately, Ring Member Jo Hayes of J H Landscaping using his network of contacts was able to source in Kent a 360 HP Caterpillar D8K with a 7 leg Simba Subsoiler available subject to agreement on price and a 48 hour police movement order. It was the &lhquot;spare&rhquot; machine and needed new tracks. As there were concerns with the weather forecast,it was decided to transport the machine prior to re-tracking – with the promise that, if needed, it would be re-tracked on site.
The photographs show the 40 year old crawler on its old tracks happily subsoiling to a depth of 20 inches with 5 legs. The subsoiler is capable of 30 inches if needed. Has it been successful? Only time will tell.
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