Hand tools and equipment for Conservation Agriculture

Transcription

1 Hand tools and equipment for Conservation Agriculture

2 Traditional land preparation Clearing of the land (Burning of fallow vegetation or residues) Primary tillage Secondary tillage Crop management activities: weeding, ridging, breaking crusts, etc.

3 Reasons for soil tillage Tradition Preparation of the seedbed Control of weeds and pests Enhancement of soil water storage and retention Warming-up of the soil

4 Functions of soil tillage Prepare seedbed Manage crop residues Incorporate fertilizers and agro-chemicals Control weeds Decompact dense layers Increase water infiltration Shape the soil surface (levelling, ridging)

5 Effects of badly chosen tillage practices Tillage system Reduction of vegetative cover Pulverization of surface layer Compaction of underlying layer Increase in run-off Erosion Winderosion Reduction of water infiltration Inefficient use of water and fertilizers Bad root development Low yields High production costs Pollution

6 Disadvantages of tillage Loss of soil moisture Limits water infiltration through surface sealing Destroys the soil structure Increases erosion risk Increases operational cost High demand on power, time and equipment

7 Conservation Agriculture Alternative to conventional tillage, through permanent soil cover no mechanical soil disturbance crop rotation and cover crops

8 Functions of Conservation Agriculture Conserve the soil Soil moisture retention Improve the soil s productivity Reduce machinery costs Reduce labour input

9 Advantages of Conservation Agriculture Increases organic matter Increases water Improves soil structure Increases crop yields Allows more time off for other activities More cost-effective

10 Tools and equipment used in Conservation Agriculture Tillage tools, hoes Cover crop and weed management Direct seeding

11 Hoeing 0,5 Million Strokes for 1 ha No regular use under CA For primary tillage Used for ridging, making mounts Disadvantages Hard work Create hoe pan Loss of soil moisture Brings weed seeds to the surface

12 Cover crop and weed management Mechanical management Machete or knife Knife rollers Mowers Chemical management

13 Mechanical management Machete or knife Advantages Easily available Cheap Common tool Disadvantages Heavy and time consuming Regrowth of weeds

14 Mechanical management Knife rollers or chopping rollers To flatten and crush the weed or cover crop Knife rollers are usually used with draft animals or tractors. However, the principle can be adopted for hand use by dragging a heavy stone or log behind a person

15 Alternative crushers Stones Wooden log Pipe or steel bar Old car tyres

16 Mowers Motorized mowers: Much higher workrate than machete Disadvantages: Expensive Require petrol fuel Noisy

17 Chemical management Use of herbicides to desiccate or kill the vegetation Advantage Easy and quick Disadvantage Sometimes expensive Health and environmental risks - needs proper training

18 Functioning of sprayers Tank Hand lever (pump) Alt. compression type Hose, trigger valve Spray lance/boom Nozzle (hydraulic, rotary)

19 Different sprayers Manual Sprayers: Knapsack sprayer Manual traction Motorized knapsack Low volume sprayer Weedwiper

20 Different sprayers Hydraulic nozzle Rotary nozzle/low volume Point sprayer (single nozzle) Boom sprayer Shielded sprayer/row crops

21 Direct seeding Broadcast seeding Planting stick or hand jab planter

22 Direct seeding Planting stick or broadcast Broadcasting used for small grain crops by small farmers Seed is walked through mulch cover Planting stick: simple tool for planting row crops

23 Direct seeding Hand jab planter Advantages Quick Relatively cheap Seeding from standing position Disadvantages requires care and skills tip clogs up in clayey soil

24 Modification of the original An additional second box that contains fertilizer Jab planters for direct planting in not tilled soil have narrow tips

25 Thank you Josef Kienzle/FAO Photos Theodor Friedrich/FAO