Soil tillage and seed bed preparation
Soil tillage and seed bed preparation includes:, planting and ridging aims at:
- Soil levelling
- Main soil tillage operation
- Seed bed preparation
- To prepare sufficient loose soil necessary for the formation of a ridge
- Cover of tubers by a layer of soil
Soil levelling
Levelling of soils is done to prevent water logging on lower spots after irrigation or intensive rain.
Soil levelling
Main soil tillage operation
The main soil tillage operation with a plough (chisel plough, disc plough, mouldboard plough) is down to a depth of 25-35 cm.
Chisel plough---Mouldboard plough---Disc plough
Objectives of the main soil tillage is:
- to loosen the soil
- to break impermeable layers
- to improve drainage
- to bring organic matter into the soil
- The main soil tillage operation is an efficient weed control method, when executed with an implement that turns the soil (mouldboard plough, disc plough).
Turning the soil by mouldboard plough
Seed bed preparation, compacting and clods
Seed bed preparation starts at right moisture content.Soil tillage in wet soils results in soil compaction and clod formation. Soil compaction leads to poor drainage and poor root development. Clods often remain in the ground until harvest. Under dry soil conditions it is difficult to break down the soil.Cultivate soils no deeper than the moisture content allows. About 10 cm of loose soil is needed to make a ridge.
Soil tillage with horses----Seedbed preparation with pto-driven harrow
For seed bed preparation pto-driven harrows give good results. A combination of planting and seed bed preparation in one operation is used to avoid soil compaction.
Combination of seedbed preparation and planting
Cover of tubers by a layer of soil
Cover of tubers by a layer of soil prevents greening, attack by insects (e.g. tuber moth) or fungi (e.g. Phytophthora infestans) and a high rise of temperature (secondary growth).
Protective layer of soil