THE AGRICULTURAL RIPPER

A ripper is an agricultural tool that is also called a subsoiler or scarifier. This tool has become popular in recent years as it can make a vertical cut as deep as one metre into the soil. Let’s find out about its features and qualities together.

1. What is a ripper and what is it for?

As already mentioned, a ripper is an agricultural tool that has become very popular in recent years due to its ability to vertically cut into soil down to one metre deep. As a result, the different layers of the soil never mix together, which is what happens during ploughing and tilling. It can therefore be considered a soil loosener. When observing the soil after the passage of the ripper, its profile remains unchanged, and only slight furrows can be seen, which are marks left by the passage of blades. It only works on the first 40-60 centimetres of the soil, including only fertile soil in the area where it operates. This process is enormously beneficial to the soil, especially as it breaks up soil beds and therefore improves water drainage and the crop to be planted in that specific soil.   

It also offers other advantages such as increasing space for root growth and an effective increase in aeration of the soil. Although it may not seem like it, a ripper requires less driving force than a plough. So there are different types, all of which must be subdivided according to the power of the tractor you have. 

The agricultural ripper usually has a 3-point hitch and is activated by a hydraulic pump. The combination of these mechanisms and the forward motion of the tractor allow the machinery to penetrate the soil. At this point, the blades and teeth come into play, which may vary in number depending on the model. 

These scarifier models fall into two broad categories, those that are suitable for small to medium tractors (60 and 80 horsepower) and those that are suited to larger, more powerful tractors (90 and 120 horsepower).

2.  Restoring a lawn with a scarifier

To scarify a lawn involves removing moss and weeds by aerating the soil using a subsoiler. Scarifying a lawn is highly important after mowing, as surface clearing of a lawn is not enough. Thatch must be removed from a lawn to prevent its formation and thereby improve the water supply to plants and grass.