List of implements used for tillage of soil: 1. Indigenous plough or Country Plough 2. Mould Board Plough (M.B. Plough) 3. Bose Plough 4. Disc Plough 5. Ridging and Harvesting Plough 6. Ladder 7. Tractor 8. Power Tiller.
Implement # 1. Indigenous Plough or Country Plough:
An indigenous plough is one of the most common implements used by Indian farmers. Different types of indigenous plough are found in our country which are basically the same, but with large variation in their shape, size, weight etc. This is due to variation of soil type, tillage requirement of various crops in different parts of our country and weight and height of draft animals in the locality. The country plough is made of wood except the share which is made of mild steel rod or bar.
Uses of Country Plough:
The country plough is one of the most important implements used mostly for tilling the land. The country plough is also used for making shallow furrow for depositing seeds, for intercultivation between rows of crops and to harvest some crops such as Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) etc. and for pudling the land for transplanting the seedlings of Paddy (Oryza sativa L) etc.
Most of country ploughs are light in weight and can be carried on the shoulder by the farmers or on the yoke of the bullocks. Since the country plough is a multi-purpose implement, it is difficult to be replaced. The depth of ploughing is usually from 4-6 inches (10 – 15 cm) and width from 5-7 inches (12.7 – 17.5 cm).
The depth of the plough can be adjusted by means of wedge provided in the body of the plough or by fixing the yoke either forward or backward on the beam. If the yoke is fixed forward, the plough goes shallow. The size of the plough varies according to the type of land to be ploughed. The dry land plough is bigger in size and wet land plough is the smallest of wooden ploughs. A worn out dry land plough is used as a wet land plough. The country plough covers an area of 0.15 to 0.25 hectare in a working day of 8 hours.
The wet land plough covers about 0.1 hectare for first puddling in a working day of 8 hours. A plough has to walk 8.25 miles (i.e. 43560/1760 x 3) to plough an area of land when the plough makes a furrow of one feet breath. Yoke is an associate part of a plough. It is made of long (5’5″ or 170 cm) are hitched up in the yoke and the ploughing is done with the help of the animals. The country plough needs less draft power and is drawn by a pair of bullocks. The speed of bullock drawn plough is 1.5 miles per hour.
Implement # 2. Mould Board Plough (M.B. Plough):
Mould Board plough is one of the important improved type of ploughs and is very common implements used for primary tillage operations. The Mould Board Plough is made of an iron or Steel. The mould board plough needs more draft power than that of country plough. The sturdier animals are required for drawing the plough.
This plough has several advantages at a time as follows:
(i) Cutting the furrow slice.
(ii) Lifting the furrow slice.
(iii) Turning the furrow slice.
(iv) Pulverizing the soil.
(i) M.B. plough is most suitable for primary tillage of almost all types of soil and it is the most important plough for primary tillage in canal or heavy rains area where too much weeds grow.
The objective for plough with M.B. plough is to completely invert and pulverize the soil, uproot all weeds, trash and crop residues and bury them under the soil.
(ii) M.B. plough cuts square furrow and the soil is inverted completely depending on the curvature given to this plough. M.B. plough is used where soil inversion is necessary and it leaves no unploughed land. This plough ploughs to a depth of 15 cm having width from 15-35 cm.
(iii) Light M.B. ploughs are also used for puddling of heavy soil (i.e. clay soil etc.).
(iv) M.B. plough is being adopted where green manure or surface vegetation has to be buried into the soil to hasten decomposition.
(v) M.B. plough is also used for eradication of deep rooted crops like Kans (Saccharum spontanum) and Mutha (Cyperus rotundus).
(vi) M.B. plough cuts the furrow slice clean which is inverted to one side resulting in better pulverization.
(vii) M.B. plough cover 0.2-0.4 hectare of land in working day of eight hours. The speed of bullocks and tractor drawn plough is 1.5 miles and 2.5 miles per hour responsibility.
Implement # 3. Bose Plough:
Bose plough is a modified form of M.B. plough. Bose plough is made of wood except the share which is made of steel or iron. The structure and function of this plough is almost similar to M.B. plough. This plough is gaining popularity among the farmers of our country and they are using this plough.
Difference between a Country Plough and M.B. Plough:
Country Plough:
1. Country plough has no mould board. So this plough cannot turn or pulverize the soil.
2. Country plough cut ‘v’ shaped furrow.
3. Country plough ploughs to a depth of 10- 15 cm having a width of 12.5-14.5 cm.
4. Ploughing may be done in any type of soil by country plough.
5. Country plough is not very much suitable for burring green manure crop or surface vegetation.
6. The depth of the furrow can only be controlled by a country plough.
7. Country plough is light in weight and needs less draft than that of a M.B. plough.
8. The village carpenter can make and repair the country plough. The price of this plough is less.
9. Country plough covers 0.15-0.25 hectares of land in a working day of eight hours.
M.B. Plough:
1. M.B. plough can turn or pulverize the soil due to having mould board.
2. M.B. plough cuts square shaped furrows leaving no unploughed area between two adjacent furrows.
3. M.B. plough ploughs to a depth of 15 cm having a width of 12.5-14.5 cm.
4. Light or heavy M.B. plough is needed to plough for different kinds of soil specially clay soil.
5. M.B. plough is very suitable soil for burring green manure crop or surface vegetation.
6. Both the depth and width of the Furrow can be controlled by M.B plough.
7. M.B. plough is heavy in weight and needs more draft than that of a country plough.
8. The village carpenter cannot make and repair the M.B. plough. The price of M.B plough is high.
9. M.B. plough covers 0.2-0.4 hectares of land in a working day of eight hours.
Implement # 4. Disc Plough:
Disc plough is also used for ploughing the land which has little resemblance to common M.B. plough. A large revolving concave steel disc replaces the disc and mould board.
Disc ploughs may be of two types as follows:
(A) Standard Disc Plough:
The standard disc plough may be animal drawn and tractor drawn ploughs.
(i) Animal Drawn Disc Plough:
This plough is attached to the universal frame which is mounted on wheel. 2-3 discs are varies from 40-50 cm having a weight of 30 kg. A rear furrow wheel is provided with the plough to take care of the side thrust of the plough. The frame is pulled by a pair of bullocks.
(ii) The Tractor Drawn Disc Plough:
The tractor drawn disc plough may have 5-7 disc blades, the diameter of which varies from 60-80 cm having a weight of 180-540 kg. The plough is provided with three wheels such as front wheel, rear furrow wheel and land wheel, drag links, deep adjustment levers and scrappers.
The scrapper is a device meant for removing the soil that tends to adhere on the surface of the disc. The discs are sharpened on the edge and are bolted to cast iron supports which are individually suspended from the main frame. The individual’s disc rotates on its own axle toward the direction of the pull.
(B) Vertical Disc Plough:
The vertical disc plough has more discs, nearly 30. The diameter and the curvature of the disc are comparatively less. The disc blades mounted on an axle and they rotates as one unit which throws the furrow slice in only one direction. This plough is generally used for shallow ploughing. The disc plough is forced into the ground by its own weight.
The penetration of the plough is improved by increasing the disc angle and also by decreasing the till angle. Besides these, addition of additional weight on the plough help them to penetrate into soil. The bullocks drawn disc plough covers 2 acres of land in a working day of 8 hours.
(i) Disc plough is suitable for ploughing the lands which are hard, dry and stony.
(ii) Disc plough is more useful for deep ploughing and plough pans or plough soles are not formed on the bottom of the furrow.
(iii) Disc plough requires less energy as compared to M.B. plough.
Implement # 5. Ridging and Harvesting Plough:
The ridging and harvesting plough has double mould board, one for turning the soil to the left and another to the right. Double winged share is attached to the mould board. This plough is available in three sizes such as heavy, medium and light. The heavy one is used for cultivation of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and lighter ones for cultivation of vegetables and other crops.
This plough is used for making furrows and ridges for planting of sugarcane (Sacharum officinarum). Potato (Solarium tuberosum L) etc. and also for earthing up of crops. This plough has arrangement for adjusting the width of furrow by changing the distance between two mould boards. This plough is also used for harvesting of some crops such as Potato (Solarium tuberosum L), Ground nut (Arachis hypogea) etc.
Implement # 6. Ladder:
Ladder is a very simple implement. It is generally made with two pieces of bamboo or a heavy wooden beam of two meters in length. The ladder is used after ploughing to crush the clods and to make the soil level. It is also used for micro – leveling and slight compaction necessary after sowing of seeds.
Implement # 7. Tractor:
Tractor is important tools for mechanization of various farm operations and it has become a vital part of modern agriculture. Four wheeled tractor having horse power of 30 to 33 can be used for ploughing, harrowing, sowing, harvesting, transport and belt work (i.e. cutting of chaff, lifting water etc.). The tractor is a wonderful piece of invention for modern agriculture.
The main units of the tractor are as follows:
1. General construction – The transmission case, clutch housing, engine and front axle support are bolted together to form a firm unit.
2. Engine – The engine is a four cylinder, four stroke water cooled engine equipped with electric glow plug for cold starting.
3. Clutch – The basic clutch is a single plate dry clutch.
4. Transmission – The transmission has eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds.
5. Differential – The differential is mounted on taper roller bearings and incorporates in a differential lock.
6. Rear axle – The rear axles are mounted on ball bearings and enclosed in removable housing which is bolted to transmission case.
7. Front axle – The front axle is of hollow square section design mounted on a central pivot pin.
8. Wheels – The front wheels are mounted on taper roller bearing on the steering knuckles.
9. Brakes – The independent brakes operated by two pedals which can be locked together for road travel. A hand brake is lifted for parking.
10. Steering – Recalculating ball or peg worm type steering gear has a single drop arm with a length drag link.
11. Cooling system – The engine is cooled by pressure cooling system with forced circulation by belt driven centrifugal pump. The radiator is a tube type with multiple rows or tubes.
Implement # 8. Power Tiller:
A power tiller is a machine having two wheels on one axle. The power tiller is generally used for ploughing, harrowing, puddling and pumping of water. There are different types of power tiller available in the country.
The power tiller consist of the following parts:
i. An engine.
ii. Shaft Transmission belt.
iii. Clutch.
iv. Gear box.
v. Wheels.
vi. Chain drive.
vii. Rotavator (Tilling blades)
The engine mainly consists of the following parts:
i. Fuel Tank.
ii. Fuel pump.
iii. Air cleaner.
iv. Cylinder.
v. Piston.
vi. Connecting rod.
vii. Crank Shaft.
viii. Fly wheel.
The power tiller works on diesel oil. When starting handle of the engine is turned, some air gets sucked into the cylinder through the air cleaner. When the piston which is contain inside the cylinder moves forward, the air in the cylinder gets compressed. Because of this compression, the air becomes very hot.
At that time, the fuel pump injects some diesel oil into this hot air inside the cylinder. The diesel thus gets ignited due to the high temperature of the air and burn with great force and pushes back the piston.
The piston is connected to the crank shaft by means of the connecting the rod. Therefore, when the piston, moves in the cylinder, the crank shaft starts turning on the crank shaft on the fly wheel is mounted which is quite heavy. The weight of fly wheel helps it to continue to rotate some more and thus the process of sucking air, compressing it, injecting diesel and burning is repeated. This process takes place once when the fly wheel rotates twice. On the fly wheel is fitted in the engine pulley which is connected to the main clutch by means of three v-belts.
The power and the revolution of the engine are transmitted through the bolts and clutch to gear box. The wheels are connected to the gear box through the gear and axles. The rotavator is also connected to the gear box through the sprocket and chain drive. The clutch is capable of being ‘engaged’ and ‘disengaged’. By engaging the clutch, the engine becomes connected to the gear box and wheels will start turning and the rotavator will start rotating. When the clutch is disengaged, the engine gets disconnected from the gear box and wheels will not rotate.
Power tiller may be used for tilling on dry land and wet land and wet land for puddling. When the power tiller is used for puddling, the pneumatic wheels and rear wheels should be replaced by steel wheels and tail skid respectively.