6. Function of Primary Tillage implements
1. Mould Board Plow:
To cut and break the soil.
To lift the soil.
To turn the soil.
To pulverize the soil (To some extent).
To burry weeds, trash and manure.
Maximum depth of plow is 22 cm
7. 2. Disc Plow:
It is primary tillage implement
It is used in stony and rocky areas
In sticky soils (Clay) the soil would be removed and cleaned by
rolling action of disk.
It penetrate deeper than mould board plow
Maximum depth of plow is 20-30 cm.
8. 3. Chisel Plow:
Chisel plow works in hard pan.
The chisel plow goes upto a maximum depth of 40 cm.
It consist of three shanks fixed to a box type
structure.
9. 4.Sub-Soiler:
It is identical in shape to a chisel plow except that a single
shank is used.
It works up to a depth of 90-100 cm.
It is operated in sub-soil below to break hard pan and make
soil suitable for root development.
It is usually operated after 3-5 years.
10. Function of Secondary Tillage Implements
1. Disk Harrow
It is used after plowing to cut up vegetative matter that may
be on the surface, such as stalks, cotton stalks and weeds, and
to pulverize the soil.
It is used after plowing to pulverize the soil to put in better
tilth for the reception of the seed.
11. 2. Bar Harrow
It breaks crust of soil formed by beating action of rain
and reduce the compaction occurred by human, animal
or machinery.
It smoothens and levels soil surface to some extent.
It stirs soil.
It covers the seed of broadcast.
It penetrates to a depth of about 5 cm.
It can mix up the manure.
It can be used for intercultural operation.
12. 3. Cultivator
It is just like chisel plow except that it is light in
construction.
It goes to a shallow depth.
It breaks clods and pulverizes the soil.
This implement does not invert the soil
13. 4. Rotavator:
It is used particularly for puddling operations.
It cuts and invert the soil.
It pulverizes the soil.
It mix crop residue and organic matter with the soil.The
operations like cutting, inversion, pulverization are carried out
in one operation.
14. How to choose the right tool for
specific farming need
Soil Type: Understand your soil type (e.g., sandy, loamy, clay)
and its needs, as different equipment suits different soil
conditions.
Farm Size: The size of your farm will impact the scale and type
of equipment you require .
Purpose: Determine your specific tillage goals, whether it's
seedbed preparation, weed control, or residue management.
Equipment Type: Decide between conventional (plows, disks)
and conservation tillage (no-till, reduced tillage) methods,
considering their environmental and long-term soil health
impacts.
15. Budget: Assess your budget constraints and explore new,
used, or leased equipment options. Compatibility: Ensure the
chosen equipment is compatible with your existing machinery
and tractor.
Maintenance: Consider maintenance requirements,
availability of spare parts, and local service support.
Consult Experts: Seek advice from agronomists, fellow
farmers, or agricultural extension services to make an
informed decision.