How Deep in the Soil Do Spading Machines Work?

Spading machines are invaluable tools in agriculture and gardening, revolutionizing how we prepare soil for planting and cultivation. With their mechanical prowess, these machines can delve into the earth, turning over layers of soil to create fertile, aerated ground ready for planting. However, a fundamental question that often arises among users and enthusiasts is, “How deep in the soil do spading machines work?”

In this article, we delve into the depths, both figuratively and literally, to uncover the secrets behind spading machine operations. Whether you are a seasoned farmer, a passionate gardener, or simply someone curious about the intricacies of soil preparation, understanding the depth at which machines operate is of paramount importance. Read on to learn more about it.

Understanding spading machines

Spading is a tillage method where the field’s top layer is loosened, broken up, and mixed without turning the entire top layer as in the case of tilling. A spading machine is any agricultural tool used for this purpose. It is usually powered by a power take-off (PTO) driven tractor.

Spading machines break up the clods, leaving a porous and permeable base that favors the transpiration of air and water absorption. It differs from tilling or plowing, where the clods are lifted, creating a smooth and compact base that remains buried under the tilled soil.

Spading machines come in different shapes, sizes, and configurations. Solex offers spading machines from different manufacturers.

Falc Toro and Mini Toro spaders
Solex offers Falc Toro and Mini Toro spading machines from the Italian company Falc. The job of these spaders and digging machines is identical to the old hand-digging method, which consists of penetration, pulling up, and tossing. They are very efficient in turning organic material into soil for decomposition. The surge in organics that started more than a decade ago gave a lot of life to the use of spaders and minimum till equipment.

Falc’s spaders do not cause the formation of the crushed, smooth, and impermeable layer, which is typically left by the plough at the bottom of the furrow. Instead, it leaves the ground soft and permeable. As a result, the fertility of the soil is improved because the chemical or organic fertilizer is blended better in its entirety with the ground, as it encourages the decomposition of the crop remains after harvesting.

Falc’s spaders also help improve the life of micro-organisms, which are essential for transforming organic matter. Falc’s spaders enable the ground to be worked when it is wet or even if the top surface is saturated with water.

Falc’s Toro and Mini Toro spaders can also work on dry soils as they enable the formation of limited sods (also commonly known as turf), which are very much smaller than those digging can leave, therefore facilitating the subsequent refining procedures for the preparation of planting.

They are built to be paired to an ideal tractor provided with a 3-point hitch and a Cardan shaft transmission. Falc’s spaders are ideal for vegetable cultivation, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, groves, vineyards, and in great extensions.

• Falc Toro specifications:
  • For 40 to 90-horsepower tractors
  • 50 to 98-inch working width
  • Three-speed ranges: 120, 140, and 160 revolutions per minute (rpm)
  • External flanges and cage protection are standard
  • PTO shaft with clutch
  • The tractor must be equipped with creeper gear

• Falc Mini Toro specifications:
  • 40 to 80-inch working depth
  • Four-speed gearbox
  • For 30 to 60-horsepower tractors
  • PTO shaft with clutch
  • Cage protection

Advantages of using spading machines
The main advantage of spading machines is to enable the tilling and draining of land prone to cause root asphyxia (roots that are deprived of oxygen, which causes the crops to die) by breaking the clods that have been present and generally disintegrating the soil.

The use of spading machines helps leave the top layer of the soil very airy, contributing to excellent rooting and a balanced soil structure and composition. An airy and permeable soil also facilitates better water management by ensuring that excess rainwater drains better in the ground.

Factors affecting spading depth

Before spading your field and preparing it for sowing, consider the following factors that can affect spading depth:

• Soil moisture – Water is essential to get the seed to germinate and grow properly. For example, 30% of a kernel’s weight in corn needs to be absorbed for the embryo to grow, while in a soybean, half of its weight in water is needed. So, adequate and consistent soil moisture is the key. The soil’s moisture helps you determine and adjust the seed depth as needed.
• Soil temperature – Temperatures can fluctuate on the surface of the soil throughout the day, while temperatures in the deep soils are more consistent. Seeds, such as corn kernels, placed in constantly changing seed depths are typically at risk than seeds placed in deeper soils. So, soil temperature and the crops to be planted can also help you in determining spading depth.
• Operator skill and experience – The operator's skill and experience level can also influence spading depth. The more experienced the operator, the more knowledgeable he is in determining spading depth.
• Depth adjustments and mechanisms – Spading machines can operate at more depth compared to traditional plowing or tilling tools. Rotary spaders, for example, are found to be effective at incorporating high rates of delved clay-rich subsoil to depths of 25 to 35 centimeters as a part of the claying procedure. Spaders can be adjusted to work to a desired soil depth, depending on the crops to be planted. Some of the depths that spading machines work include 9.85”, 8.66”, 13.78”, etc.

Ideal spading depth

• Crop-specific considerations – The spading depth may depend on the sowing depth. And each crop seed requires different sow depths. Depending on the crop, the good seed depth is at least 1.5 to 2 inches, which is recommended, especially in dry conditions, to ensure adequate moisture for the seed to germinate successfully.
• Soil health and structure – The health and structure of the soil may also influence the spading depth. Before performing any spading procedure, the first top six inches of the soil should be inspected for soil moisture and overall structure. For example, if soil moisture is low, spading should be minimized (unless absolutely necessary) as too much spading may cause the soil to lose moisture (up to s 0.25 inch the most).
• Depth for weed control and seedbed preparation – The steps to achieving a good seedbed may include spading the soil to around 5 inches deep. When spading, the weed seeds are brought closer to the surface, the sunlight, and soil moisture so that they will germinate. After spading, the weed seeds will germinate, allowing the farmers to eradicate them using herbicides. Then, the spading machine runs through the soil again to turn under the dead weeds and optimize crop seed germination.
• Depth for moisture retention and erosion prevention – Soil moisture content is usually lower in topsoil (0 to 20 centimeters) compared to the moisture in deeper soil (40 to 80 centimeters). As long as it’s not excessive, spading can increase soil porosity to encourage root growth, moisture penetration, and drainage. It can also help reduce erosion by protecting the soil surfaces and allowing the water to infiltrate instead of running off. Recent design adaptations have gradually been made to reduce the risk of soil erosion and increase the adaptability of spading for ameliorating sandy soils.

Monitoring and controlling spading depth

• Tools and techniques in measuring spading depth – There are many ways to measure spading depth, but we’ll just name a few. Spading or tillage depth is traditionally measured by using a steel ruler. For real-time tillage measurement, a sensor fusion method was developed, consisting of a linear potentiometer, inclinometer, and optical distance sensor to measure the vertical penetration depth of the attached implement.
• Tips for maintaining consistent depth during operation – Maintaining soil-engaging points on spading equipment requires consistency, which is very important. Proper adjustment to only half of the spades means that the machine will only be 50% effective on each pass. Thus, proper adjustment and maintenance are keys to achieving the desired consistency in soil depth.
• Safety precautions to avoid going too deep – Although spading does not normally cause a hardpan in the soil, remember not to spade too much or too deeply. Otherwise, it can lead to compacted soil and poor crop production.

Conclusion

One of the good things about spading machines is that they can be adjusted in depth. You may wonder, is it necessary to adjust your spading depth? The answer is yes, absolutely! Planting conditions and depth directly impact seed-to-soil contact and the seed’s access to moisture, temperature, and nutrients necessary for its successful germination and growth. Adjusting your spading depth is essential so that you’ll get the right spading for optimal sowing conditions.