Stealth LD Subsoiler

Improve soil health by Stealth

It is widely acknowledged that reducing the mixing of soil horizons will improve soil health. It is also well documented that reduced surface disturbance is essential in fighting grassweeds. Where a min till or no till regime is employed, either constantly or during the rotation, there is a growing demand for effective, low disturbance subsoiling to loosen and fracture the medium depth subsoil to relieve compaction thus assisting drainage, aeration, nitrogen uptake and encouraging crop rooting.

OPICO has taken this thinking and customer feedback onboard and has worked with HE-VA to design a totally new low disturbance subsoiler specifically for the UK market. HE-VA have over 15 years of expertise in producing subsoilers coupled with the past five years of manufacturing low disturbance subsoiling machines.

The HE-VA Stealth – a medium depth, low disturbance subsoiler. Its scalloped straight, front cutting discs cut through trash, vegetation and top soil, reduce soil burst and in turn grassweed germination.

The Stealth's low disturbance legs are staggered in 2 rows to allow residue flow through the machine to reduce the required tractor lift capacity whilst maintaining a lower HP requirement. Leg spacing is standard at 500mm but can be altered to 450mm, 500mm or 550cm, adding versatility for differing soil types and conditions.

The hardened cast steel low disturbance points are tungsten tipped and 120mm wide creating the necessary lift and shatter whilst ensuring longevity. Similarly, the 15mm leg is thinner than a standard subsoiler leg but, being made from “Hardox 500” gives it strength and durability.

Surface compaction can be alleviated to a maximum working depth of 300mm (12”). HE-VA’s standard hydraulic depth control
is fully adjustable from the tractor seat.

The Stealth has been designed to satisfy the requirements of no till and reduced input farming systems. However, it is also suitable for use in all farming systems where repair to damaged soil structure is required e.g. on headlands, tramlines or other high traffic areas.

The Stealth is available as a 3m, 3.5m, 4m, 5m and 6m mounted or 5m, 6m and 7m trailed machine. Machines over 3.5m fold hydraulically.

A Stealth kit i.e. legs and points are available to retro fit to existing HE-VA machines e.g. the HE-VA Subsoiler range and for all HE-VA Combi-Discs.

The 15mm low disturbance leg and tungsten tipped LD point are also the product of many years development. Whilst many customers are moving towards reduced tillage systems they appreciate that drainage is key to crop development, allowing timely field operations and preventing the relentless progress of grass weeds such as blackgrass. The low disturbance leg and point that HE-VA has developed allows deep soil loosening whilst minimising surface disturbance and preventing mixing of the soil profile.

The thinner legs are made from stronger Hardox 500 steel. However, it is the point that really makes the difference. The Stealth point has a shallower wing angle and shorter tungsten tipped nose that opens the soil to create drainage without disturbing the whole soil profile.

The Stealth legs and points can be interchanged with the standard subsoiler as necessary.

The Subsoiler “Hammer Thru” quick change shearbolt system protects the machine in tough, stony conditions and means minimum  down time for the operator. Its “tolerance style” shearbolt allows several resets before the need for a change.

When the legs brake back the operator simply removes the holding pin and hammers another segment of the shearbolt through then returns the holding pin to its original position. This removes the need to carry a supply of shearbolts while using the Stealth low disturbance subsoiler.

Alternatively there is a Hydraulic Reset Subsoiler version for extremely stony conditions.

All models are available with hydraulic auto reset for extremely stony conditions. An individual hydraulic cylinder on each leg which is connected to a gas accumulator allows the leg to break back and reset if it comes into contact with an unmovable object.

As the legs on a Stealth low disturbance subsoiler are adjusted deeper the leverage on the hydraulic reset cylinder increases and so a pressure gauge is used to allow the operator to set the force required for the leg to break back.