CROP PRODUCTION

This follows land clearing,

• Small scale farmers use jembes or fork jembes during hand digging.

• In Large scale framing ploughing is done using moldboard or disc plough.

• Other farmers use ox ploughs.

• Primary cultivation should be done before the onset of the rains. This ensures that all other subsequent operations are done in good time.

Importance of Primary Cultivation

1. To remove weeds.

2. To bury organic matter for easy decomposition.

3. To facilitate water infiltration and aeration.

4. To destroy soil borne pests by exposing them to predators and the sun.

5. To make planting easy.

Methods of Primary Cultivation

1. Hand digging. This is done by use of jembes, mattocks and fork jembes to cut and turn the soil slices.

2. Mechanical cultivation. This is the use of tractor drawn implements such as moldboard and disc ploughs. Subsoilers, cultivators and chisel ploughs are used to break the hard pan. Subsoiling is the process of cultivating the soil with the purpose of breaking up the hard pan. Hard pans may be formed due to continuous use of heavy machinery on the land.

Importance of subsoiling

• Breaking up the hard pan hence improving drainage.

• Improving soil aeration.

• Bringing to the surface leached minerals.

• Improve root penetration.

3. Use of an ox plough. This is the use of ploughs drawn by oxen, donkeys or camels. The method is faster and more efficient than hand cultivation. It’s common in areas where land is fairly flat.

The following aspects should be considered when carrying out primary cultivation.

I) Time of Cultivation

Land should be prepared before the onset of the rains so as to;

• Give enough time for the weeds to dry up and decompose into organic matter.

• To allow CO2 and other gases to diffuse out of the soil while being replaced by oxygen

• Give enough time for subsequent operations to be done hence giving way to early planting.

 II) Depth of Cultivation

This is determined by;

• Type of crop to be planted. Shallow rooted crops do not deep cultivation. Deep rooted crops require deep cultivation.

• Type of the soil. Heavy soils are hard when dry making jembes and fork-jembes to dig shallowly.

• The implements available. Tractor drawn implements give deeper depth than hand operated tools. III) Choice of the Correct Implements This is determined by:

1. Condition of the land. If the land has a lot of stones and stumps, a disc plough is preferred because it rolls over the obstacles without braking.

2. Type of the tilth required. Very fine tilth requires different types of implements.

3. Depth of cultivation. When deep cultivation is required heavy implements are used.

Light implements are used when shallow cultivation is needed.

4. Topography of the land. Tractor drawn implements cannot be used where the slope is very steep.

5. Implements available. A farmer can only use what is locally available.

6. Shape of the land. Some land shapes may not allow tractor drawn implements to be used efficiently e.g. where there are acute corners.

7. Size of the land.