On Season Tillage
Tillage operations done for raising the crops in the same season or at the onset of the crop season
are called as on season tillage. They are,
A. Preparatory Tillage
It refers to tillage operations that are done to prepare the field for raising crops. It is divided into
three types viz., (i) primary tillage, (ii) secondary tillage, and (iii) seed bed preparation.
Primary tillage - The first cutting and inverting of the soil that is done after the
harvest of the crop or untilled fallow, is known as primary tillage.
Secondary tillage - It refers to shallow tillage operation that is done after primary
tillage to bring a good soil tilth. In this operation the soil is stirred and conditioned by
breaking the clods and crust, closing of cracks and crevices that form on drying.
Incorporation of manures and fertilizers, leveling, mulching, forming ridges and
furrows are the main objectives. It includes cultivating, harrowing, pulverizing,
raking, leveling and ridging operations.
Seed bed preparation - It refers to a very shallow operation intended to prepare a
seed bed or make the soil to suit for planting. Weed control and structural
development of the soil are the objectives.
B. Inter Tillage/Inter Cultivation
It refers to shallow tillage operation done in the filed after sowing or planting or prior to harvest
of crop plants i.e., tillage during the crop stand in the field. It includes inter cultivating,
harrowing, hoeing, weeding, earthing up, forming ridges and furrows etc. Inter tillage helps to
incorporate top dressed manures and fertilizers, to earth up and to prune roots.
Off Season Tillage
Tillage operation is done for conditioning the soil during uncropped season with the main
objective of water conservation, leveling to the desirable grade, leaching to remove salts for soil
reclamation reducing the population of pest and diseases in the soils. etc. They are:
(a) Stubble or Post harvest tillage - Tillage operation carried out immediately after harvest
of crop to clear off the weeds and crop residues and to restore the soil structure.
Removing of stiff stubbles of sugarcane crop by turning and incorporating the trashes and
weeds thus making the soil ready to store rain water etc., are the major objectives of such
tillage operations.
(b) Summer tillage - Operation being done during summer season in tropics to destroy
weeds
and soil borne pest and diseases, checking the soil erosion and retaining the rain
water through summer showers. It affects the soil aggregates, soil organic matter and
sometimes favour wind erosion.
(c) Winter tillage - It is practiced in temperate regions where the winter is severe that makes
the field unfit for raising crops. Ploughing or harrowing is done in places where soil
condition is optimum to destroy weeds and to improve the physical condition of the soil
and also to incorporate plant residues.
(d) Fallow tillage - It refers to the leaving of arable land uncropped for a season or seasons
for various reasons. Tilled fallow represent an extreme condition of soil disturbance to
eliminate all weeds and control soil borne pest etc