Types of tillage

Apart from the two major tillage types which are the primary and secondary, there are other types of tillage practices such as the minimum tillage, cultivation tillage and zero tillage.

Primary tillage

This type of tillage is one which displaces and shatters soil to reduce its strength and to bury or mix plant residues/materials and fertilizers in the tilled layer. Primary tillage is more aggressive, deeper and leaves a rougher surface on the soil than the secondary tillage.

Secondary tillage

Secondary tillage is the type of tillage that works the soil to a shallower depth, compare to the primary tillage; it also provides additional pulverization, kills weeds, levels the seedbed surface and firms the soil.

Minimum tillage

This is a type of tillage that provides the minimum soil manipulations necessary for crop production or for meeting tillage requirements under the existing conditions. It also serves as a means of reducing crop production costs and improving soil conditions.

Cultivating tillage

Cultivating tillage is popularly a post – planting operation but, on some occasions, it is applied to seedbed prior to planting. This shallow tillage is desired primarily to control weeds and also to create conducive soil conditions for improved aeration, infiltration and moisture conservation for the promotion of crop growth.

Zero tillage             

This is a procedure whereby planting is made directly into an essentially underprepared seedbed. This tillage types has the major advantage of less soil compaction and of protecting or preserving the soil against erosion. Zero tillage without heavy machinery preserves the soil properties but it is time - consuming and reduce the area which can be cultivated by a farmer.