Land Preparation

Introduction

Land preparation or Tillage practice is a very important practice to enhance good yield from
crops grown. It is one of the measures used to control crop diseases and pest invasion.

The purpose of land preparation is to provide the best soil conditions which will enhance the
successful establishment of the tissue culture plants. It is one of the measures used to control crop
diseases and pest invasion. Land preparation is also called as tillage practice; tillage practice is the
mechanical pulverization or manipulation of the soil to take about favorable conditions for the
growth of crops. Tillage practices include all operations used for the function of modifying the soil
characteristics. It costs about 30% of the total cost of cultivation.

Objective of Land Preparation

To develop potential tree growth, survival, and uniformity of a crop about to be established
(planted). Through proper land preparation, factors that limit tree growth are reduced. These factors
will be included; you should be aware of land preparation types for proper implementation.

 Poor drainage
 Frost
 Weed competition
 Heavy slash
 Compacted or naturally dense soils

Land preparation improves site conditions in one or

more of the following ways:

 Reducing weed competition for light and

nutrients
 Improving soil, water, and air conditions
through and water cultivation
 Loosening tight or compacted soils to allow
 Reducing frost susceptibility during
mounding.

Tillage for Soil Conservation

Tillage is an important and the main tool for conservation of the land. As per definition, its
primary function is to provide a favorable soil environment for the plant growth, which is indirectly
related to soil conservation. The effect of tillage on soil erosion is the purpose of its several effects
on soil such as aggregation surface sealing infiltration and resistant to erosion, destruction of soil
structure either by excessive tillage or tillage operations at improper soil moisture condition tends to
raise the soil erodibility, causing significant soil loss. To achieve a better result for soil conservation
the following points must be considered for tillage operations.

1. Till no more than necessary

2. Till only when soil moisture is in the good limit and
3. Vary the depth of ploughing.
Tillage Depth:
A plowing depth in the 15-20 cm range is generally adequate, and there is seldom any
advantage in going deeper. In fact, shallower plowing is often suggested for low rainfall areas to
conserve moisture.

Different Land Preparation Techniques:

1. Conventional Tillage
2. Minimum Tillage
3. Zero Tillage

Conventional Tillage:
The sequence of operations traditionally or most generally used in a given geographic area
to produce a given crop. The operations used vary considerably for different crops and in different
regions.

Minimum Tillage:
Minimum tillage is the small manipulation of the soil. It is otherwise referred to as traditional
tillage process. It is not as sophisticated and technical as the conventional tillage. It involves the use
of the cutlass to slash weeds and vegetation regrowth on the farm, the less manipulation is done
with the hoe and rake.

Zero Tillage Practice:

Otherwise called no tillage is a simplified form of minimum tillage. It involves only opening a
narrow strip about 2 to 3cm wide or hole in the ground for seed or seedling placement. Zero tillage
is no pre-planting seedbed preparation. Weeds are taken care of with the use of herbicides and
cutlass without disturbing the land. The crop is then planted directly without tilling or ploughing the
soil, this process is highly effective under sloppy lands where soil and water erosion are heavy.

Methods Involving No-Tillage or Seedbed Shaping:

Slash, burn and plant: this process is most suitable for sandy soils which are naturally loose or for
other soils that are maintained in good tilth (a loose, crumbly situation) by a lengthy vegetative
fallow which produces soil humus. It may be the feasible method for rocky soils or those with
pronounced slopes where tillage would accelerate erosion.

Slash, mulch, and plant: this process is suited to the same conditions. The vegetation is slashed down
or killed with an herbicide and then left on the surface to form mulch (a protective covering). The
seeds can be planted in the ground or may even be scattered over the ground before slashing. The
mulch is valuable for erosion and weed control, conserving soil moisture, and keeping soil
temperatures more uniform.

Reference
https://www.agrifarming.in/land-preparation-types-methods-objectives-advantages