Lemken has launched a pair of rigid-frame Onyx subsoilers capable of busting compaction to a maximum depth of 60cm.

Both the seven-leg MR/300 (3m) and nine-leg MR/400 (4m) can achieve this feat thanks to a generous 90cm of underframe clearance.

Their layouts are identical but for the working width, with the legs spaced at 42.5cm centres and spread across two rows 84cm apart to give reasonable maintenance and repair access.

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There’s plenty of scope for altering the job they do – primarily through the choice of shares.

The 60mm-wide OM setup features a curved leg with a blade on the tip to simultaneously mix and lift the soil, typically to a depth of 25-40cm.

More intensive disturbance can be achieved by adding 33cm wings, fitted in one of two positions.

Deeper loosening

Alternatively, there’s a straight-legged OL version designed for deeper loosening to 40-60cm.

Like the OMs, there’s the option of speccing wings – 25cm wide in this instance – for extra heave.

Both OM and OL metal is hard-faced as standard and can be toughened further with a carbide coating.

And shear-bolt protection can be upgraded to hydraulic overload cylinders with an adjustable trigger force of 700-1,400kg.

A telescoping edge plate keeps disturbed soil within the confines of the implement so it can be levelled by the rear consolidation tool.

There is the choice of two: an RSW 600 tube bar roller or DSW 580 double spiked roller.

The inclination of the latter, and the distance between its two roller units, can be altered to suit the desired crumbling effect.

This will influence the power requirement, which Lemken vaguely quotes at 65-130hp/m.

Plans are afoot for a limited Onyx production run next year.