LAND
LEVELLING
Land levelling is a process of flattening or modifying existing slopes or undulations rather than necessarily creating a level surface as the name may imply.
Benefits:
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Improved crop establishment, even water coverage of the field, even crop stand and maturation,
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Reduction of weeds by up to 40 % (thereby a 75 % decrease of labour required for weeding),
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Increase of farming area by 5-7 %,
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Reduction of farm operation times by 10-15 %.
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Average yield increase of 10- 20 %
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Leveling reduces the time needed for transplanting and for direct seeding.
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Good leveling may reduce total water requirement to grow the crop by up to 10%.
Conservation tillage is a practice of reducing soil disturbance and allowing crop residue or stubble to remain on the ground or to be incorporated into the soil. Conservation tillage is any tillage practice that retains enough of the previous crop residue, such that 30 percent of the soil is covered after planting
Benefits:
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Crop residue on fields acts as a mulch to protect soil from erosion
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Promotes soil productivity by feeding the biology which increases the soil's organic matter
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Stable soil aggregated increases soil absorbency and infiltration rates, while fostering root establishment and growth.
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Reduce soil erosion and agricultural runoff.
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Promotes water conservation by reducing evaporation, which is important for areas affected by severe drought.
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Less time and resource intensive, which improves overall cost effectiveness of farmer.
