RA 00015.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

Since the 150-cm bed-and-furrow system has
been adopted in the watershed-based resource
utilization research, it was necessary to adapt
and modify equipment for making these. Where
the soil had been previously tilled, a ridger body
was set at each end (150 cm apart) of the toolbar.
An oblique deflector was attached behind each
ridger inclined towards the center to form the
ridge. This provides a slight crown, which is
desirable to provide proper drainage of the bed.
Figure 67 shows broad beds being re-formed for
the third year. For interrow cultivation, a steerable
toolbar is used (Fig 68). The animals and
implement wheels in all operations move in the
furrows.
It is relatively common in the SAT to use twowheel
carts with various animals. In some cases a
four-wheel trailer replaces the two-wheel cart.
This has the advantage of being able to carry a
much heavier load and to remove the vertical
force from the necks of the animals. Such a trailer
was designed to fit on the tropiculteur, using the
tropiculteur as the two front wheels and frame
for the trailer. A turntable is mounted on top to
provide steerage. A frame with rear wheels
completes the vehicle. This trailer can be fitted
with various attachments for handling produce
or to carry pipes used for supplemental irrigation
(Fig 69).
Tillage Requirements
Tillage, including mechanical weed control and
seedbed preparation, usually requires much
power in the production of most annual crops.
Thus it is desirable to minimize tillage as much as
Figure 67. Broadbeds being re-formed for the third year on an Alfisol at ICRISAT Center.
150