Conservation agriculture techniques in animal traction systems

Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisation

African Conservation Tillage Network

By: Eng. Saidi Mkomwa

1 December 2017

Conservation AgricultureTechniques in Animal Traction Systems

“THE TRUTH IS THAT NO ONE HAS EVER ADVANCED A SCIENTIFIC REASON FOR PLOWING” –EDWARD FALKNER


Contents

1.Introduction to mechanized Conservation Agriculture Systems

2.CA mechanization tools, equipment and machinery

3.Operations for land and field operations• Hand-tool technology (HTT)

• Draught animal technology (DAT)

• Engine-power technology (EPT)

4.Options for seeding ad planting• Hand-tool technology (HTT)

• Draught animal technology (DAT)

• Engine-power technology (EPT)

5.Options for weed control, residue and cover crop management

6.Post production and harvesting equipment


Food Security more urgent in Africa in coming years

1.Global pop. to increase by 33% to 9 billion by 2050

2.Africa’s to increase by 115%; by 21% in Asia

3.60% more food worldwide; 100% in Africa

4.Worldwide hunger decreased by 132 million in last 20 years; it

increased by 64 million in Africa.

5.Threatening climate change challenges

6.Farming related land resource degradation


Remember

The 3 CA Principles

1. Minimum mechanical soil disturbance

2. Permanent organic soil cover

3. Crop rotations or associations

No till seeder design requirements

1. Soil surface covered by residues after seeding

2. Minimal volume of soil mobilization

3. Ability to meter different seed types


Remember:

why minimum mechanical soil disturbance?

Tillage or ploughing – is the most time and power consuming operation. When avoided, saves costs and time

Undisturbed weed seeds remain in the soil without germinating – reducing weed pressure and seed bank

Ploughing disturbs the soil – making it susceptible to erosion; causes plough pans

Ploughing releases GHG contributing to climate change


Minimum soil disturbance

The “Deceiving” effects of ploughing

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS

• Weeds are controlled• Seedbed is prepared• Water infiltration improves• Soil aeration improves• Nutrients are released,

availed• Incorporation of manure,

fertilizers & organic matter• Loose soil eroded and

nutrients are leached

LONG TERM EFFECTS

• Depleted soil organic matter • Damaged soil structure and

macro pores• Soil flora and fauna disappear• Hard/plough pan formation• Acute soil water availability

and restricted aeration• Distortion of pH levels• Decline in nutrient

availability


Will mechanization of Agriculture

in Africa Displace Labour?Ever growing population and

rapid urbanization Who will produce food ?

• Average age of farmers in Africa is 60 years

• Youth migrating to urban centres

• Youths associate farming with poverty. But they do not hate farming, they only hate the poverty.

• The sustainable intensification to be promoted should enable the youths to see a different future in agriculture: not as a struggle to survive; but as a business that thrives.

https://goo.gl/5C8mur


The Africa we want

Modern agriculture for increased production, productivity and value additioncontributes to farmer and national prosperity and Africa’s collective food security;

Africa’s agriculture will be modern and productive, using science, technology,innovation and indigenous knowledge. The hand hoe will be banished by 2025 andthe sector will be modern, profitable and attractive to the continent’s youths andwomen (AU, 2015)


Before starting CA

Dealing with various types of soil problems• Compacted soils

• Crusting due to heavy rainfall on ploughed soil• Animal hooves• Tractor wheels

• Hardpans amelioration• Using a ripper• Using a subsoiler• Using planting basins• Sowing a strong-rooted cover crop.

• Ridges and furrows.• Permanent broad beds. Land levelling (automatic laser

levellers)

• Abnormal pH• Liming.


Which mechanized CA options?

• The CA options used in any circumstance need to ensure the three principles are observed.

• How to achieve this essentially depends on

• - Available farm power sources

• - Crops to be grown by the farmer

• - Socio-economic status of the farmer

• - Availability of equipment selected

• - Economic viability

• - Technical suitability of the techniques chosen


Options for land preparation

• HAND TOOLS

1. Hand hoes

2. Chaka hoes

3. Hand rippers

• ANIMAL DRAWN TOOLS

1. Animal drawn furrow openers

2. Animal drawn sub-soilers

TRACTOR DRAWN TOOLS

1. Tractor drawn rippers

2. Tractor drawn sub-soilers


Ripping1. Ripping opens a narrow (about 5-10 cm) slot or furrow in the soil

surface. Depth could vary from 15-20 cm.

2. Used to break up a surface crust or a shallow hardpan. Also used to open a furrow for sowing seeds – either by hand or planter attached to the ripper itself.

3. Using the ripper allows sowing the crop earlier and faster than ploughing the soil and then plant.

4. Ripped lines spaced 50-90 cm apart, depending on crop row spacing. The ground in between the rows is left undisturbed.

5. Rainwater concentrates in the planting lines and sinks into the soil where the crop roots are growing.


Needed equipment; how to do

ripping/planting

• Needed

o Ripper

o Draught animals

o Planting tool

• How to do ripping and planting?

1. When? Before or on commencement of the rains?

2. How to deal with mulch/residues?

3. On slopy land?

4. Row spacing for different crops?

5. Manure?

6. How do you sow seeds on the ripper rows?


Ripper

Ripper planter

Ripper attachment



ADP Ripped Lines



Realizing sustainable agricultural mechanisationSemoir attelé - Madagascar



Tractor – Zero till CF


Mechanical Min till CA


Zero Till 3 row direct seeder – for larger

farmers



Roberto Peiretti 2005Roberto Peiretti 2005


Options for weed control, residues and cover crop

management

• Mechanical weed control optionso Hand operated tools

• Weed scrapper

• Slasher/matchette

o Animal drawn weed management equipment

o Tractor powered weed management equipment


What factors enhance uptake of mechanized CA?

1. High demand for planting equipment (opportunity for direct seeding equipment).

2. CA technologies that address weed management issues so Introduction of animal powered ground driven sprayers

3. Increased profitability from cash crops eg cotton, soyabeans.

4. Availability of equipment on the market (reliable sources)


Challenges of access to CA equipment

1. Little progress made in availing CA equipment on the market (chicken and egg story)

2. True CA concepts still at their infancy

3. Various CA equipment developed through research.

4. Poor linkages between research-farmer-private sectorextension researched equipment still unavailable to the farmer

5. Equipment access generally increases from subsistence to cash crop producers


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Conservation agriculture techniques in animal traction systems