Tillage virtues and the necessary operational logistics

For tillage virtues to be achievable during tillage operation, the necessary tillage practices must be meticulously adhered to as listed below;

Good drainage status and root development: Prolong water logging is detrimental to crop health immediately after the seed has been sowed. The causal effect is the existence of hard pans below and around the top soil. Such instances needs amelioration with chisel, plough and so on, suitably applied above the critical depth to produce low confining stresses which will promote drainage status and root development. Use of heavy equipment or mouldboard plough can produce a smeared and compacted zone due to the high confining stresses resulting in compressive failures, the several depending on the moisture status and so on.

Rapid germination: To promote rapid germination in plants, adequate aeration and water available is very essential. This requires fine tilth production to encourage water imbibitions through capillary action but with sufficient air-filled porosity for the maintenance of adequate aeration. Fine tilt production is achievable by the use of implements such as spike-tooth harrow, spring-tine harrow and so on, with the tendency to reduce clod production involving low confining stresses or brittle failure.

Minimize risk of erosion: Soil erosion is always a risk following cultivation prior to crop establishment. Generally, a good tilth comprising an appropriate distribution of coarse aggregates reduces risk of erosion, although other soil conservation tillage measure maybe appropriate in extreme situations.

Minimum impedance to crop emergence: The soil strength immediately above the seed is the main tilth factor governing shoot elongation and emergence. A loose soil condition of optimum ratio of fine to coarse aggregate above the seed is desirable plants. This is achievable by adopting an appropriate tillage pattern that will likely subject the top soil to low confining stresses. This equally minimizes the risk of soil capping, although the seed drilling technique such as full dropping has acclaimed applicability.