Equipment used for land forming

The equipment used for land forming operations includes the following such as bulldozer, motor grader, terrace, land plane, excavator, and scraper and so on. Their operations are as described briefly as follows;

Bulldozer

The cutting of the soil as well as the movement of the soil is affected by the steeply inclined blade while soil filling is done where there are undesired depressions which are on the land surface.

Scraper

This equipment is very effective in process of land forming as they are self – operation to the extent that they can load, haul and discharge material where applicable without depending on other equipment. Their ability to load and haul earth (soil) gives them a definite advantage on many projects. They are available as wheel – tractor scrapers and crawler – tractor scrapers, although the former are common and preferred for longer haul distance.

Land plane

Land plane is a tractor – pulled and has an adjustable long blade with which it cuts and moves small layer of soil to provide a smooth, refined surface condition. Compared to the bulldozer and the scraper, soil movement is minimal hence it is usually used at the final stage of the land leveling.

Terracer

Terrecer is used for the purpose of providing artificial obstruction of soil on sloping land to prevent erosion.

Excavators

Excavators can be used for the construction of irrigation canals and drainage channels. They employ hoes to excavate below the natural surface of the ground on which the machine rests. Excavators are self – propelled and are, presently, commonly tracked. Excavating machines include crane – mounted dragline and hydraulic excavator or back actor operating in a similar manner to the dragline. The dragline is used mainly for work which hydraulic excavator or back actor cannot undertake, owing to such factors as the water – course being too deep or too far where the machine can work.

Motor grader

This is a self – propelled machine which is most effectively useful in the last stage of land forming to meet the desired soil elevations and slopes, for example leveling, contouring, cutting and filling. It is also an essential machine for terracing and usually tyre – wheeled for enhanced mobility. It is filled with centrally mounted adjustable blade and scarifies for trimming, shapping and scarifying.

Other agricultural tillage implements

Other tillage implements such as harrows, ploughs and so on, are used for seedbed preparation in crop production. These implements provide a suitable terrain for crop production through soil movement and filling of undesired depressions.