In the deep sandy soils of the Northern Free State, the recipe for success remains simple: open up the soil, encourage deeper root growth, and make the most of every drop of water. For JP Meintjes of Kruispan Boerdery, that potential is unlocked one hectare at a time with the Agrico T-Series ripper and the right approach.
Compaction is a challenge on these soils
According to Paul Burger, implement product manager of Agrico, compaction is one of the biggest challenges on this type of soil. ‘The sandier and deeper the soil, the more prone it is to compaction. This restricts root growth, making it harder for crops to develop optimally and ultimately reducing yields.’
Although compaction is a natural process, it is accelerated by agricultural machinery traffic, water movement, and other factors. As a result, deep tillage has formed part of cultivation practices in the Northern Free State for decades.
‘Our water table is usually between 900 mm and one metre below the surface,’ says Meintjes. ‘That’s why we always try to loosen the soil as deeply as possible, and to do that, we need a ripper.’
Burger expands: ‘I’ve often heard producers say that for every additional 100 mm you rip into these sandy soils, you can gain between 400 and 600 kg of yield/ha. Of course, this varies from season to season, but over a number of years, you definitely see the benefits.’
A ripper designed for maximum efficiency
Kruispan Boerdery uses a T-Series ripper that was specifically designed to meet their requirements. The implement operates in a tandem configuration. The front T1000 tine breaks open the upper soil layer, while the rear T1250 tine works deeper to further loosen the soil profile.
The design is intentionally focused on reducing draft requirements. ‘The tines are only 25 mm thick. This presents a smaller profile for the sand to move against, significantly reducing draft,’ explains Burger. The implement also features an optimum 30-degree point angle, helping to fracture the soil efficiently without unnecessary energy consumption. Like many modern Agrico implements, the T-Series features a modular design.
‘Working widths, tillage depths, and kilowatt requirements differ from farm to farm. That’s why we use modular tine technology and frames that can be customised to suit each farmer’s specific needs,’ says Burger.
Lower fuel consumption, higher productivity
At a time when input costs continue to rise, fuel consumption is a critical consideration for every producer. Meintjes was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the new ripper.
‘Our previous rippers were about half the size of this one. Back then, we worked with a 410-horsepower tractor. Now we’re using a John Deere 9RX 830 with a 12,2-m-wide ripper fitted with 16 tines.’ The difference in fuel consumption has been remarkable.
‘With our previous rippers, we averaged between 14 and 15 litres of diesel/ha. With this implement and tractor combination, we’ve reduced that to around 12 litres/ha, and in some areas even as low as 11 litres/ha. That’s the lowest diesel consumption I’ve ever seen from a ripper doing this type of deep tillage.’
An investment that proves its value
The value of the T-Series lies not only in its technology, but also in the economic benefits it delivers to producers. ‘In Kruispan’s case, their cultivation practices were already sound. What Agrico added was lower fuel consumption and better utilisation of capital,’ says Burger.
For Meintjes, the results are already evident. ‘With current maize prices under pressure, good yields make a huge difference. The first fields we’ve harvested are producing above-average yields, which is very encouraging for us.’
