Water conservation through tillage

Water is one of the most important components of crop production system. The depleting level of ground water and uneven pattern of rainfall are the two main factors affecting water availability and also the yield levels of various crops. So efforts are needed to develop technologies to preserve water. At every stage and every operation of farm, a thought is to be given through the point of view of water conservation. In this process, it was thought to preserve water through tillage. To ascertain the water conservation and puddling performance of different tillage equipment, field trials were conducted at departmental research farm. Cultivator attached to the planker, pulverizing roller attachment to cultivator, and rotavator were evaluated. Puddling index, hydraulic conductivity and average infiltration rate were recorded in the field. It was found that puddling index was maximum in field puddled by rotavator (80.55%) and both hydraulic conductivity (after first 24 hours of puddling) and average infiltration rate were maximum in case of cultivator with planker (6.615 mm/day and, 2.51 mm/h, respectively). Ten days after puddling, there was 25.6% and 20.2% water saving by rotavator and cultivator with pulverising roller attachment, respectively over cultivator with planker.