A GUIDE FOR FARMERS

CONVERSION FROM OX PLOUGHING TO MIN-TILL RIPPING USING THE MAGOYE RIPPER

No Farmers no Future CFU established in Zambia in 1996

Conservation Farming Unit

THE MAGOYE RIPPER

Reversable Point

Wings

Body

Magoye Rippers are manufactured by Zimplow in Zimbabwe and are now also manufactured in India

ATTACHING THE MAGOYE RIPPER TO THE PLOUGH BEAM

Turn the beam upside down, remove the mouldboard and fit the Magoye Ripper

Points wear out make sure farmers have access to spares

After demonstration and training, commercialisation is necessary. Local manufacture may be possible. Rural stockists are essential.

Mealie Brand Zimplow Beam

On the Mealie Brand Beam, the angle of the trek chain is adjusted by moving the Chain Pin. On the Standard Beam a Chain Hitch is used for adjustment.

Note: Plough beams manufactured by other companies may not be suitable.

DO NOT REMOVE PLOUGH BEAM ATTACHMENTS THEY HAVE A PURPOSE

Chain pin

When the ripper point is worn down this far undo bolts and turn it round .

Bolts

Depth Wheel adjustment

Standard Zimplow Beam with adjustable chain hitch

Chain Hitch

180cms

USE THE CORRECT YOLK AND MAKE IT PROPERLY

Carved necks

The 180cm yolk measured from the centre of each neck skei is the correct one for ripping at 0.9m between rows. A well made yolk with carved necks is more comfortable for oxen

30 cms

Ripping Yolk for ripping at 0.9m spacing

Ploughing Yolk not suitable

SETTING UP THE STANDARD RIPPER FOR CORRECT AND EFFICIENT RIPPING

Adjustable Depth wheel shackle

Chain Hitch - Standard Zimplow Beam with 5 positions for hitching chain

Adjusting the Ripper to achieve correct depth of about 15cms while minimising work load can only be achieved by practise. Three adjustments are available for correct set up. (1) the level of the depth wheel (2) the position of the chain hitch and (3) the length of the trek chain

WELL TRAINED AND WELL MAINTAINED OXEN ESSENTIAL

Trek Chain should be 3 metres from Yolk to Hitch

Good Depth 15cms. On very compact soils double ripping may be necessary. Each year the same rip

lines are re-opened

PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT

Ripping is done in the dry season or after early showers but before the onset of the main rains

Don’t burn residues!

Second ripping underway after early showers

SECOND RIPPING AND EARLY RIPPING

A second may be necessary if soils are compacted or communally grazed cattle have trampled the field and the furrows have to be re-opened.

Early dry season ripping through harvested Cowpea

Early dry season ripping when soils are still moist is possible if after harvesting early maturing crops such as Cowpeas, Field Beans, Green Gram etc. If possible rip out the same furrows as previous year, or as close as possible.

MIN-TILL ENABLES TARGETTED APPLICATION OF MANURE AND LIME IN RIP LINES FOR BEST EFFECT

Apply Manure and Lime in ripped furrows after 2nd ripping if done. Some farmers apply basal nutrients including fertilizer and plant seeds in one operation. Refer to Technical Leaflet No. 3 for correct seeding of different crops.

Covering seed with hoes: Notice small

depression after covering seed to harvest rainfall

Covering seed with light branch: Farmers who have planted

larger area do this. Crop emergence may not be quite as good.

Manure Lime Lime, Fertilizer and Seed together

NO! NO!

COMMON MISTAKES

Don’t use spike harrows or cultivators to cover seed as they cause too

much disturbance. Some seed will be left on the surface and some buried

too deep.

1 Hectare Time taken to Rip: 4 hours

Cost of Ripping: ZMK 125,000 – ZMK 200,000* Ripping Window: 5 months

Benefits • Cheaper, faster and better use of scarce Oxen • Early planting, higher yields • Less soil disturbance and erosion • Potential for service provision as a business • Better for service provider, better for client * (When ripping is done again to deepen or re- shape )

1 Hectare Time taken to Plough: 14 hours Cost of Ploughing: ZMK 225,000 – ZMK 300,000 Ploughing Window: 2 weeks

Disadvantages • More expensive, minimal use of scarce Oxen • Late planting particularly for farmers who ‘hire in’ • Wasteful use of applied nutrients, lower yields • Excessive soil disturbance, erosion, compaction • Minimal potential for service provision • Danger of crop failure for clients in dry years

Ploughing Ripping

SOME BENEFITS OF MIN-TILL RIPPING COMPARED WITH PLOUGHING

ADP MIN-TILL RIPPING AND USE OF HERBICIDES

Because ripping is done before the onset of the main rains weeds will emerge before or together with the crop. It is therefore essential that farmers who rip, learn to use herbicides

safely and correctly, whether they have ripped their own fields or have had their fields ripped by service providers.

Pre planting application

of glyphosate

Post crop emergence application of

Maize selective after glyphosate

Farmers may apply glyphosate after planting but before crop emergence

WHICH IS THE BEST CHOICE AND WHICH IS EASIER?