Ploughing Efficiently with Different Ploughing Patterns

Tilling the soil before planting or land preparation is a quite expensive and critical operation for the success of the farming season. There are numerous patterns that are used for tilling the soil. Use of Tillage equipment depends on these different types of ploughing patterns.

The most important purpose of using various types of plough or tillage equipment is to reduce the number of turns and get the best out of the length of tillage rounds.

Ploughing patterns are decided on various factors such as

·        The use of the implement

·        Field levels for – headland, plains

·        Field shapes – long, narrow

·        Types of Soil

Different types of ploughing patterns are mentioned below

1.      Circuitous pattern –

·        This ploughing pattern is most commonly used in Asia.

·        In this type, farmers start ploughing from the outside edge of the field, towards the centre leaving a furrow in the middle.

·        The soil is thrown on the outside of the field. This is commonly done with disc plough, Mouldboard plough, offset disc plough.

2.      Headland Pattern –

(i)                 One way –

·        The ploughing is done in tracks parallel to each other, starting at one side of the boundary, ending at the opposite side of the field and turns made on the headlands.

·        This pattern is generally used in large fields and done by some specific tillage implements such as rotavators or rotary tillers, harrows and reversible MB plough.

·        This is one of the most efficient systems to plough the fields.

·        The tillage equipment should be correctly operated r set up so that it does not leave a furrow in the fields.

(ii)               Gathering –

·        In this type of pattern ploughing is started from the middle of the field and leaves a field level.

·        In this pattern, it is essential to have the right measurement of the field for deciding the centre point.

·        If done properly, it makes the soil smooth and ideal for planting, creating drainage passages on the edges.

·        Furrow parts are turned towards the middle of the field.

·        This pattern of ploughing can be done with any types of ploughs.

(iii)              Casting Pattern –

·        This pattern is quite the same as the gathering pattern but the ploughing is started at the edges.

·        Furrow parts are generally turned towards the edges of the land.

·        This types of the pattern can be used with all types of ploughs.

3.      Continuous Ploughing

·        This is considered the most economical and convenient ploughing pattern for normal soil conditions.

·        In this pattern, the headland is marked initially and the first point is established in the third quarter of the field width from the edge.

·        The other edges are at the complete width over the field.  Farmers start ploughing between the first edge and along with the side land.

·        Farmer continues to turn tractor left in the three quarters until the ploughing of a quarter of land width is completed on each side.

4.      Round and round ploughing

·        In this pattern the plough is used round and round of the field

·        This pattern is generally used in soil conditions where the ridges and furrows obstruct the tilling work.

·        There are two starting points in this.

(i)                 Centre Starting

·        A tiny part in the middle of the field is marked and ploughed first

·        And later, the ploughing is done round this tiny spot of the field until it is completed till the end.

·        This pattern is not very economical.

(ii)               Outer end Start

·        It is started with Tractor ploughing from the end moving on all the sides of a field and then gradually coming from the edges to the mid of the field.

·        This is one of the conventional ploughing methods.

(iii)              One way ploughing

·        This pattern is done with a specific type of plough known as a reversible plough.

·        A reversible plough turns furrows to the right or left.

·        The farmer plough along a straight side of the field

·        At the end of the first round, the farmer turns tractor in a loop and returns through the same furrow.

·        This pattern is most suitable for gently sloping fields.

Maintenance of Tillage Implements

As we know the use of modern farm equipment is one of the major factors to the economy of any country, but it equally important to know the maintenance of tillage implements like Power Harrow, Rotavator, Plough, Ripper, harrows, cultivators, and other tillage implements.

There are some important tips by whom we can maintain our tillage implements

• Always make a habit to Keep your tillage implements clean by removing all trashes and dirt from implements before use and after farming use.
• We always make sure that every component of the nuts, caps, screws or shields is properly tight.
• Lubricant metal joints or bearings regularly.
• We should keep in mind agriculture machinery or implements user manual or manufacturer instruction.
• Should replace the defected part immediately
• Always use to Keep farm implements in a cool and dry place or sheds.
• Take inspection of your tillage implements by experience tractor user