Smallholder farmers who produce most of the world’s food must improve their output by 2050 to feed the ever-increasing population. Agriculture is one of the primary sectors in the world. Food production is highly dependent on the farmers and the farming techniques involved.

Keeping this increasing demand for food production in mind while protecting natural resources, imbibing Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) will be essential shortly as well. This practice is climate-friendly and ecologically harmless, thus involving no-till conservation agriculture.

What is Chisel ploughing? How does it help in sustainable agriculture?

The Chisel Plough is a beneficial implement for limited soil disturbance and deep tillage of prepared land. This essential tool aerates the ground and is found to be effective at leaving crop remains at the top of the soil. It can alleviate the compaction issues and break through a plough pan or hardpan.

In contrast to several other ploughs, it will not invert the earth, thus making it a popular choice among no-till and low-till farming approaches thus prioritizing erosion prevention through organic matter and farming remains spread over the soil surface.

Benefits of chisel plough:

  • Chisel ploughing aerates and loosens the soil:

    By employing heavily pointed tines, chisel ploughing assists in churning up the dirt to generate the grooves or furrows. This action results in compacted soil broken apart and makes it simpler for the roots to penetrate, the uptake of water and nutrients to be maximized and the aeration of the soil to be promoted.
    As a result, the introduction of oxygen is heightened, and advantageous bacteria and microorganisms in the soil can work effectively.

  • Reduces the impact of compaction:

    The utilization of heavy farm machinery and tools can bring about intensely compacted land. A chisel plough can help alleviate this predicament by decreasing the degree of soil compression, thus allowing the plough to penetrate the land better and even spurring root growth. The fissures created by the chisel plough can contribute to the amelioration of any troubles triggered by intensive farming practices.

  • Reduces soil erosion:

    Chisel ploughing is essential in preventing soil erosion by creating furrows and troughs that enable water to penetrate the soil instead of running off its surface. This method helps protect the upper layer of soil, along with its organic and nutrient components, which are significant for maintaining soil fertility and crop productivity.

  • Prevents formation of surface crusts:

    After irrigation or rain, soil particles form a tough outer crust that obstructs the water’s ability to be taken up and restricts the germination of seed. Chisel ploughing is used to break the hard-upper layer and help promote the clustering of soil particles. It enables a higher absorption rate of the water and results in the soil’s ability to hold more of it.

Conclusion

With the implementation of chisel ploughing, several advantages can be obtained as mentioned above. These practices lead to the improvement in soil health, enhanced crop development, and a more sustainable farming system.