Breaking up compacted soil under the surface is an important part of ensuring that the vines have access to the nutrients and water in the lower soil strata ensuring healthy growth and giving the finished wine the unique taste of the terroir.
Numerous tractor passes over the same patch of ground throughout the season compact the ground and cause problems with soil drainage, root development and an uneven surface. The use of a subsoiler is a remedy for these problems.
For many seasons Vitifruit Equipment has had a subsoiler available for hire as well as being a selling point. The tool has proven to be highly successful due to its unique design namely it’s very strong structure, an overall width of only 1.50m making it easy to manoeuvre even in tight 2.0m vine rows. Its specially shaped legs which lift the soil across a wider band than straight legs and also reduce the amount of power needed from the tractor to drag the tool through the ground. Immediately in front of the legs are soil cutting discs without which the legs would bust up the soil surface leaving lumps on the surface which are difficult to get rid of and cause extra wear and tear on subsequent passes with the mower and other kit.
At the rear is the roller which acts as a depth control device on the legs but also helps push the heaved soil back down level so as to make following passes with the sprayer as smooth as possible. The two legs are reversible so that they either lift soil alongside the vines or in the centre row and they can be positioned laterally in order to sit them where the compaction is worse, typically where the tractor tyres have run.
