Opico has extended its range of grassland maintenance machines with the launch of a new Sward Slitter that improves the aeration of plant roots in the upper soil surface and stimulates grass and clover growth.
“Aeration of the sward root zone is critical for a healthy ley,” Opico managing director James Woolway said. “Slitting allows oxygen interchange through the soil surface and farmers who have tested this new machine report of larger clover plants and greener grass.
“Slitting also encourages evaporation of moisture in the surface layer of soil so that it dries out more quickly – this will promote earlier growth in the spring.
“While slitting or spiking of grassland is not new, we have taken a fresh look at the design of the Sward Slitter’s points and incorporated a chamfered trailing edge. This limits the turf damage when each knife comes out of the soil, so leaving a better finish.
“The Sward Slitter is designed for the removal of surface compaction and capping,” Mr Woolway added.” For deeper compaction – greater than 12cm – like that caused by heavy machinery or livestock poaching, then farmers should use a Sward Lifter to break up the mineral pan and improve drainage.”
The new Sward Slitter further extends Opico’s range of grassland maintenance and improvement machines. The grass harrow was introduced in 1995, seeders added in 1998 and a grassland subsoiler – the Sward Lifter – in 2007. The Sward Lifter has already proven extremely popular among farmers to remedy the damage of the past wet summers.
The Sward Slitter consists a heavy-duty frame and weight carrying rack with the slitting axle consisting of 18 rotors with four blades each, to give a
total of 72 blades, mounted underneath. The machine has a 2.9m working width, a 3m transport width, and costs £3,750.
For more information visit: www.opico.co.uk.
