Friday, 03 May 2019 13:03

Sumo GLS wrestles compaction

Written by  Mark Daniel
Sumo GLS grassland subsoiler in action at Mystery Creek. Sumo GLS grassland subsoiler in action at Mystery Creek.

A recent demonstration of a grassland subsoiler in the heavily compacted car park at Mystery Creek impressed visiting dairy farmers.

Farmers were grabbed with its ability to improve drainage, aerate the upper profile of soil and allow nutrients to get to plant roots.

Giltrap Agrizone, importer and distributor of the UK-made Sumo range, showed its GLS Grassland subsoiler, described by factory specialists in attendance as the ideal tool to revitalise compacted grassland, including land that is waterlogged, badly pugged or compacted by heavy machinery during, for example, harvesting.

Offered in three-, four- or five-leg versions, the GLS series is available in two frame sizes with working widths of 2.3 or 2.8m, equating to transport widths of 2.5 or 2.9m, respectively, and with frame configurations and leg numbers resulting in spacings of 830 or 580mm.

Legs are manufactured from 20mm Hardox steel fitted with narrow points and wings designed to create lift and fracturing but with minimal surface disturbance. The legs are carried on a heavy- gauge box section frame offered in operating weights of 1490, 1625 and 1875kg, respectively, in the three-, four- and five-leg configurations referred to above.

To help penetration while protecting the surface sward, the front rail of the frame carries serrated opening discs mounted on individually suspended arms; these allow the subsoiler to enter the soil with tearing the sward. The discs are adjusted by a single bolt fixing for each unit.

The low draught subsoiler legs are protected against trash/junk damage by a hydraulic non-stop auto reset function that operates at pressures of up to 150bar. 

Working depths are 100 - 350mm. 

The manufacturer recommends the operator uses a spade to dig around and examine the soil profile, before setting the machine to work about 50mm below any plough ‘pan’ (compacted ground).

At the rear of the machine, a 508mm flat packer roller is configured with a helically mounted shark-fin design to aerate the upper level of the profile as it rotates. 

The roller also carries a row of paddle teeth behind each subsoiler leg to close the ‘cut’, while also imparting a positive driving effect to the roller assembly. 

An optional following harrow can also be fitted to spread loose grass and create a ‘de-thatching’ effect.

More like this

Hi-Spec tankers have the right specs

Imported and distributed by Giltrap Agrizone in Cambridge, Hi-Spec slurry tankers and manure spreaders are offered in several ranges to suit farmers and contractors.

Featured

AgriSIMA 2026 Paris machinery show cancelled

With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.

NZ tractor sales show signs of recovery – TAMA

As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.

National

Machinery & Products

New pick-up for Reiter R10 merger

Building on experience gained during 10 years of making mergers/ windrowers, Austrian company Reiter has announced the secondgeneration pick-up on…

Krone EasyCut B1250 fold

In 2024, German manufacturer Krone introduced the F400 Fold, a 4m wide disc front mower, featuring end modules that hinge…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Microplastics problem

OPINION: Microplastics are turning up just about everywhere in the global food supply, including in fish, cups of tea, and…

Job cuts

OPINION: At a time when dairy prices are at record highs, no one was expecting the world's second largest dairy…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter