2. LAND PREPARATION

LAND PREPARATION

Specific objective

At the end of the topic, the trainee should be able to:

a. Name the tools and implements used in land preparation

b. Explain the importance of land preparation

c. Explain the methods of land preparation

TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS USED IN LAND OPERATION

a. Mould board plough

b. Harrow

c. Jembe

d. Machete

e. Slashers

f. Mowers

g. Rakers

h. Axes

LAND PREPARATION

Land preparation involves all the activities that make land suitable for planting such as  

–ploughing/digging  

-harrowing  

-ridging  

-rolling etc.

A piece of land that has been prepared for planting is called seedbed. In a seedbed the planting materials germinate and grow to maturity and are harvested from same place. 

IMPORTANCE OF LAND PREPARATION

• To kill the weeds.

• Encourage water infiltration into the soil. 

• To aerate the soil.

• Incorporate manure and other organic matter into the soil.

• To destroy stages of crop pests such as eggs, larvae, pupa or adults burying them, exposing them to the suns heat or predators and starving them.

• To encourage root penetration into the soil.

• To make subsequent operations possible e.g. planting, fertilizer application, rolling and ridging.

OPERATIONS IN LAND PREPARATIONS

They include;

A. Land clearing.

B. Primary cultivation.

C. Secondary cultivation.

D. Tertiary operations.