High efficiency subsoil ripper for vineyards
Industry partners and project staff
Industry Partners
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Manufacturing - Kubpower and DeMill Engineering
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Loan of equipment - Agrowplow, Grizzly, Red Rhino and Howard Aust.
Project Staff
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Mr Michael Slattery
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Dr Jack Desbiolles
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A/Prof John Fielke
Sub Projects
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2000 & 2001 SENRAC "Development of High Efficiency and Low Power Subsoil Amelioration Technology for the Viticultural Industry".
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2000 UniSA ITEE "Development of High Efficiency Subsoil Amelioration Technology for the Viticulture Industry".
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2001 UniSA ITEE "Development of Subsoil Ameliorant Applicator Technology for vineyards".
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2000-2003 GWRDC "Soil Improvement Technologies for Established Vineyards".
Aim
To develop, evaluate and demonstrate a high efficiency and low power subsoiler suited to typical vineyard tractors to remedy vine subsoil constraints within the confines of the vine mid-row in established vineyards.
Methodology
- To identify advances in subsoil tillage machinery, then design and manufacture a high efficiency subsoil loosening machinery suited to use in established vineyards with 60-80HP tractors, including soil amendment incorporating ability.
- To evaluate in sandy and clay soil conditions i) the improvement in subsoil loosening efficiency and small tractor capability and ii) the soil/amendment mixing ability of the machinery.
- To investigate the relative performance of the developed machinery compared with benchmark technologies (open paddock trials).
- To evaluate subsoil management strategies for a selection of problem soils in established vineyards.
- To disseminate knowledge on best practices for achieving effective and efficient subsoil physical environment.
Achievements
Design, development and manufacture of the new subsoil ripper
technology that incorporates multi-depth, multi-pass and vibratory
tillage technologies in collaboration with industry partners Kubpower
and DeMill Engineering. The versatility of this implement includes
variable frequency, amplitude, tine type and tine layout.
Initial results are promising in the subsoil clay of this future
vineyard. Subsoiler tine vibration reduced the pulling required by
tractor wheels by up to 70% compared to that required with rigid tines
at the same depth. This was calculated to reduce the energy/power
required from the tractor by about 25%, equating to a 25% saving in
fuel. Utilising this available energy gain and reduction in pull, the
same tractor then operated the vibrating tines at a depth of 450-500mm
compared to a maximum depth of 350mm with rigid tines.
Publications
- SENRAC 2000 End of Grant report.
- UniSA ITEE 2000 End of Grant report.
- Slattery MG & Desbiolles JMA, 2001, Development and performance of a high efficiency subsoiler for soil amelioration in established vineyards. Poster paper, 11th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference 2001. (still to be published)