IMPORTANCES OF SOIL CULTIVATION IN AGRICULTURE

By Bezana Zanovuyo & Nogaga Madoda

WHAT IS SOIL CULTIVATION?

Cultivation is the loosening and breaking up (tilling) of the soil in order to better prepare it for planting. It is a practice which is designed to improve the condition of the soil for plating purposes. One of the most common reasons to practice soil cultivation is to address soil which has become compacted. Soil cultivation can also include adding soil amendments to improve the health of the soil. Compost is a classic and widely used example of a soil amendment, added to the soil with the goal of making it more rich The soil organic matter can be seen as the darker layer beginning at the soil surface. Organic matter acts as a glue to bind soil particles into aggregates. Therefore, a soil high in organic matter will generally be well structured. This is especially true in loamy textured soils. A productive pasture phase over a number of years will improve the structure of most soils, because the organic matter content will increase under pasture. This improvement will begin at the surface (since this is where plant residue and manure from stock is deposited) and slowly move down into the topsoil over time. When a soil is cultivated, soil aggregates are broken down and soil is aerated. This exposes soil organic matter, speeds up the breakdown of soil organic matter, and is harmful to soil structure. Therefore, reducing tillage can improve soil structure. The principle of cultivation is to turn the soil into a fine tilt to provide the ideal environment for seeds to germinate. Cultivation was also a traditional form of weed control. The climate of most European countries is wet and cool, allowing organic matter to build up in soils even when they are Cultivated.

AIMS OF SOIL CULTIVATION

Creating good growing conditions for plants There are many reasons for cultivating the soil. The most important ones are to: Loosen the soil to facilitate the penetration of plant roots. Improve the aeration (nitrogen and oxygen from the air). Encourage the activity of the soil organisms. Increase infiltration of water. Reduce evaporation. Destiny or control weeds and soil pests. Incorporate crop residues and manures into the soil. Prepare the site for seeds and seedlings. Repair soil compaction caused by previous activities

IMPORTANCE OF CULTIVATION IN AGRICULTURE ADVANTAGES OF CULTIVATION

Cultivation is conducted for a variety of good reasons. It is important that cultivation of the soil does not create as many problems as it solves. Some advantages of cultivation are: Soil cultivation (or digging) is mainly carried out to bury weeds and debris. This is usually followed by surface preparation for sowing and planting Cultivation improves soil structure by breaking compaction, plus it also offers the chance to apply fertilizer, manure and lime Only minimum cultivation is needed because over-cultivating can damage the soil structure, such as bringing stones on the top soil which will disturb the growth of crops plants. It is often a form of weed control. It can play a part in pest management. For example, tillage is recommended to reduce the number of overwintering heliothis pupae in paddocks where susceptible summer crops such as sweet corn and tomatoes are grown. It may reduce the occurrence of soil-borne diseases which tend to attack crops. Soilborne Diseases such as rhizoctonia can be a problem in soils where crops are planted using direct drill or zero till. It roughens the soil surface to help retain moisture.

DISADVANTAGES OF CULTIVATION
Cultivation has the potential to destroy soil structure and make soils more prone to other forms of degradation, such as erosion. Incorrect use of cultivation can have the following effects: There may be a reduction in soil organic matter (including nutrients) and therefore a Decline in soil structure. provide the ideal environment for seeds to germinate Good soil structure is important for good Root growth and water penetration (drainage by rainfall or irrigation). Cultivation that mixes surface soil with subsurface soil will lead to a dilution of organic matter (which is most concentrated at the soil surface). This will mean that crusts are more likely to form after cultivation. Cultivation can make hard setting and crusting problems worse, Since soil organic matter and stable aggregates are destroyed. Cultivation can bring sodic material to the soil surface. This can cause or increase soil crusting.

SOIL PREPARATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND

Several factors affect the method of soil

preparation: length of growing season annual distribution of rainfall soil type slope of the land type of crops to be produced size of farm level of technology

CHISEL PLOUGH
Chisel plough Chisel plough Chisel ploughs are used to

shatter but not turn or move the soil. They work on the same principle as rippers, but in the top 30 cm of the soil. Again, the soil must be dry to moist, otherwise the plough will smear and seal the soil surfaces.

Ripper (subsoil)
Ripper (subsoil) Ripper (subsoiler) Rippers or subsoilers break up compacted soil below the depth reached by conventional cultivation, to improve drainage and aeration. There are several types of deep rippers: vertical, agro plow, parabolic, C shank (SJ) and Para plow, and they can reach 3090 cm into the soil. Most have slanted tines or a sharply angled leading point to lessen the power required to pull the ripper. This design also helps lift and shatter the subsoil so that any compacted layer is broken up. Soil should be reasonably dry when it is ripped. Ripping wet soil does not shatter the subsoil and can smear and seal the soil beside the ripper tine. Smeared surfaces prevent air, water and roots moving through the soil.

Disc plough
Disc plough Disc ploughs and offset discs Disc ploughs break up undisturbed soil by inverting it to bury surface weeds and trash. Regular use of disc ploughs reduces soil aggregates to small particles and produces a compacted layer or plough pan which prevents air, water or roots penetrating the subsoil. When it rains, soil particles on the surface collapse together to form a crust which repels air and water and is difficult for seedlings to break through. Offset disc ploughs, which have two rows of discs running at angles to each other, serve a similar purpose. They are usually used as a second tillage implement, and for initial tillage on lighter soils.

Harrows
Harrows Harrows are used for

seedbed preparation and light surface cultivation to remove weeds after seeding. If used regularly they will break down and pulverize the soil structure

Rotary hoe
Rotary hoe Rotary hoes aerate the soil

and provide a fine seedbed. However, in the process, the rotating shoes compact the soil underneath the level they are aerating, and destroy the soil structure by pulverizing the seedbed, leading to crusting and compaction when the soil is wet.

Cultivated soil.

Cultivated soil.

Surface runoff & erosion

Poorly developed roots as the results of soil structure