Modern concepts in Tillage

  

                                                             

Minimum Tillage

-Concept started in USA the immediate cause for introducing minimum tillage was high cost of tillage due to rising oil prices.

- Minimum tillage is aimed at reducing tillage to minimum necessary for good seed bed, rapid germination satisfactory stand and favourable growing condition.

-In minimum tillage 30 to 50% crop residues left on soil surface

Advantages of minimum tillage

-Minimum tillage increases infiltration rate because of vegetation present on soil.

-Due to the composition of plant residues soil condition is improved

Disadvantages of minimum tillage

-Germination of seed is lower.

-In minimum tillage more nitrogen is required as the rate of decomposition of organic matter is slow.

-Minimum tillage also effect on nudules of leguminous crop.

-Difficulties in sowing operation.

-Continuous use of herbicide create problem of soil pollution.

-Due to less mineralization presence of higher organic matter in zero till soil 

-Due to presence of mulches reduces surface runoff in zero tillage 

- Favourable effect of zero tillage appears after two years of its practice.

-Till planting is the method of practicing zero tillage.

 -The machinery used for till planting accomplishes four task in one operation

1) Clean the strip over the crop row

 1)Open the soil for seed insertion 

3) Place the seed

4) Cover the seed properly

Zero tillage

- It is also called as no tillage or chemical tillage.

-It is extreme form of minimum tillage.

- In zero tillage primary tillage is completely avoided and secondary tillage is restricted to seedbed preparation in the row zone only.

- In zero till soil more number of earthworm are present

-In zero tillage 50 to 100 % of residues left on soil

-Paraquat and Diquat herbicide used in zero tillage

-Seedling establishment in zero tillage is 20% less than conventional methods.

-Higher dose of nitrogen has to be applied as mineralization of organic matter is slow in zero Tillage.

-G. B. Triplet is father of zero tillage also called as father of modern tillage

First time zero tillage was adopted in wheat and rice crop

Reference:-

Principles of Agronomy :- S. R. Reddy

Principles of Agronomy :- Reddy and Reddy

Compiled by:-

M. D. Gadakh

Msc( Agri)

MPKV Rahuri