TILTH & TILLAGE

TILTH

Def’n. :-

The physical condition of soil, as related to –

Its ease of tillage Fitness as a seedbed Its impedance to seedlings emergence & root penetration

It depends upon not only granulation and stability of soil; but, on another factors, eg. moisture-content, degree of aeration, drainage & capillary water capacity.Soil tilth is’nt static, as it changes rapidly due to slight change in moisture content; which may alter workability of the soil .

From the field-point of view, an ideal tilth must have following salient features –

There must be continuous system of wick pores downwards to the water table either from soil surface or land drains; through which, excess water become drained out .

These pores must be sufficiently stable to last for several yrs. . Surface soil must be crumby & crumbs should be large enough; so that, it

is’nt blown away; but, small enough to allow a better germination .

TILLAGE

Def’n. :-

It is the tilling of land or working of the surface soil to bring about the conditions favourable for raising crop-plants. Tillage helps to provide a favourable edaphic environment for the establishment, growth & yield of crop-plants .

Classifi’n. :-

Tillage is of broadly two kinds; viz. preparatory & special purpose tillage .

Former is further categorized into primary & secondary and later is further categorized into zero & blind tillage respectively .

Primary tillage is employed to cultivate a virgin or new land through ploughing with either tractor or mould board or native-plough .

Later on primary, the secondary is performed to bring a well tilth; through harrowing, hoeing, ridging, etc. operations .

Zero tillage refers to the crop-plants growth with minimum soil disturbance; which involves control of undesirable vegetation by otherthan mechanical meanses. Tilled soil dries rapidly than non tilled soil; hence, in zero tillage system, the implement is worked immediately after crop harvesting .

Blind tillage means tillage of the soil after seeding or planting either at pre-emergence or early growth stage without hampering the crop-plants but uprooting of broadleafed weeds as well as extra plant-population .

Merit(s) :- Contributes for improvement in Water(may be whatever, either irrigation

or rain-water) Holding Capacity of the soil . Accelerates soil-aeration & reduce erosion . Helps to improve the availability of plant nutrients through enhancing

decomposition of organic matter & detoxify soil from erratic appln. of agrochemicals and to expel toxic gases from soil .

Demerit(s) :- Unless the field is prepared within required duration, soil may either lose or gain moisture which makes the soil unworkable or sowing season will become delayed, which means yield reduction .Repeated tillage operation or indiscriminately given operation over larger periods has detrimental effect on surface soil granules.Frequent tillage after ploughing pulvarises the soils into dusts, which encourage wind erosion .