primary and secondary tillage and land modifications for mango abstract: tillage (ploughing the...

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TILLAGE AND LAND MODIFICATIONS FOR MANGO

Abstract:

Tillage (ploughing the soil) is the most important and first operation

carried out in mango plantations.

Initial tillage operations carried out with deeper ploughs (Chisel

plough, disc plough, mould board plough, etc.) are generally called

as primary tillage, whereas, finer field operation like harrowing and

planking etc. (using cultivator, harrow, plank, etc.) are named as

secondary tillage.


After tillage operation, mango is planted any one of the five systems,

viz., square system, rectangular system, hexagonal system, quincunx

system and contour system.

However, square and rectangular systems are popular. The lay-out is

made by marking the field and pits are dug-out and planting is made.


Learning objectives:

To gain knowledge on different primary and secondary tillage operations in

establishment of mango plantations.

To learn the different land modifications in mango plantations before

planting.

Introduction

Mango (Mangifera indica), the king of fruits, is grown in many

countries of the world. India is the largest producer of mango shares

more than a half of total production in the world.


Mango can be grown on a wide variety of soils under varied climatic

conditions.

Tillage is the physical or mechanical manipulation of the soil with tools and

implements result in good tilth for better establishment of crops.

Tillage needs to be done at the right time with the right implements

to get good tilth, which is pre-requisite for better crop production.

Mango is deep rooted tree, needs deeper ploughing for better initial

establishment.

Primitive mango growers used the country ploughs for tillage

operations.


However, advancement of science and technology, different plough such as

chisel plough, mould board plough, disc plough, cultivator, harrow, etc. are

used for preparing mango plantations.

Layout is also inseparable process with tillage, made to mark the pit.

Tillage operations in mango

1. Primary tillage for mango

Ploughs are commonly used for primary tillage. Implements used for

opening and loosening of the soil are known as ploughs. Wooden or

Indigenous plough is the most common and primitive plough used by

mango growers.


Even today, in many of the developing countries, country plough is used

and is drawn only with bullocks.

Here, ploughing operation is not perfect, because, some un-ploughed strip

(of inverted shape) is always left between furrows.

This can be reduced by cross ploughing, but even then, small squares

remain un-ploughed.

Mould board plough is being widely used in mango orchards. This

plough leaves no un-ploughed land, cuts clean and inverted to one

side resulting in better pulverization.


In disc plough, the usual size of the disc is 60 cm in diameter and this turns

a 35 to 30 cm furrow slice.

The disc plough is more suitable for land with much fibrous growth of

weeds and works well in soils free from stones.

No harrowing is necessary to break the clods of the upturned soil whereas,

after mould board plough breaking clods are necessary.

Chisel plough is mainly used for breaking hard pans and for deep ploughing

(60-70 cm) with fewer disturbances to the top layers in the new mango

orchards.


Chisel ploughing


Either mould board plough or disc plough is mandatory in mango

plantation preparatory cultivation depending on the soils.

Mango has very deep root system and tap root systems prefers deep

ploughed soil for its initial better establishment.

Chisel plough operations before mango orchard establishment

breaks the hard pan to a depth of >50 cm adds advantage of deep and

easy penetration of roots.


2. Secondary tillage in mango

Cultivator is an implement used for finer operations like breaking

clods and working the soil to a fine tilth in mango cultivation.

Cultivator is also called as tiller used to destroy weeds that germinate

after ploughing.

The disc harrow of concave discs (45 to 55 cm in diameter), cut

through the soil and effectively pulverize the clods.


Blade harrows are used for different purposes like removal of weeds

and stubbles, crushing of clods, working of soil to shallow depth.

Plank is a very simple implement crushes the clods (due to its

weight) when operate in the field.

It also helps in micro-levelling and slight compaction necessary after

sowing.


Rollers are used mainly to crush the hard clods and to compact the

soil.

Cultivators and country plough are commonly used for secondary

tillage operations. Disc harrows are now widely used. Plank and

rollers are less importance, however, in developing countries,

farmers using these


Land modification for mango

After the preparatory cultivation (primary and secondary tillages), the land

is ready for lay-out formation.

Different systems of planting like square, rectangular, hexagonal, quincunx

and contour methods are followed at different places for establishing

mango orchards.

Square and rectangular systems are the most important methods of

mango plantation. The spacing is depends on the vigour of the

variety and the cropping system.


Square planting

Rectangular planting

Hexagonal planting

Quincunx planting


High-density planting of mango helps increase the yield/unit area.

In many parts of India, some of the mango varieties found amenable for

high-density planting with a spacing of 2.5m × 2.5m.

After fine tilth (secondary tillage), pits of 1m × 1m× 1m size are dug.

These are exposed to sun for about 30 days.

Pits are filled with well-rotten farmyard manure before planting. The top

and sub-soil are taken out repeatedly while digging the pits.

The grafts are planted and protected.


Summary

Mango has very deep and tap root systems requires deep ploughed soil for its better

initial establishment.

Country plough is the most common and primitive plough used by mango growers

and still popular in developing countries.

Mould board plough leaves no un-ploughed land, cuts clean and inverted to one side

resulting in better pulverization used widely in establishment of mango orchards.

The disc plough is more suitable for land with much fibrous growth of weeds and

works well in soils free from stones.


Chisel plough operations before mango orchard establishment is

advantage of deep and easy penetration of roots.

Cultivator, disc harrow, blade harrow, plank and rollers are the commonly

used secondary tillage implements.

Different systems of planting like square, rectangular, hexagonal,

quincunx and contour methods are followed at different places for

establishing mango orchards.


Square and rectangular systems are the most important methods of

mango plantation.

High-density planting (with a spacing of 2.5m × 2.5m) helps increase

the yield/unit area.


Assessment:

1.Country plough is the most common and primitive plough used in mango

plantations (True/False)

2.Mango has shallow root system and tap root systems prefers shallow ploughed

soil (True/False)

3.Disc and mould board ploughs are most important ploughs in mango orchards

establishment (True/False)

4.Square and rectangular systems are the most important systems of mango

plantation (True/False)

5.Cultivator and disc harrows are commonly used for getting fine tilth in mango

field preparation (True/False)


References:

Kumar, N. 2000. Introduction to Horticulture. Rajalakshmi

Publications, Nagarkovil, Tamil Nadu.

Nakra, C.P. 1980. Farm Machinery and Equipments. Dhanpati Rai

and Sons, New Delhi.

Singh, S.P. 2000. Commercial fruits. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana.

Yellamanda Reddy, T. and G.H. Sankara Reddi. 2010. Principles of

Agronomy. Kalyani Publisher, Ludhiana.

primary and secondary tillage and land modifications for mango abstract: tillage (ploughing the...

Documents

primary tillage

mango mango

secondary tillage operations

initial tillage operations

different plough

mangoafter tillage operation

primitive plough

indigenous plough