Abstract
Management Research and Training Programme for Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
Effect of different tillage implements used for land preparation for wheat crop has been studied. Rotavator and cultivator used for ploughing gave the maximum yields as compared with other techniques. The seed bed preparation by cultivator alone was found to be the most suitable as it suits to the farmers resources i.e. low cost and high return, easily available and this method consumed about 14% less ir-rigation water as compared to rolavator Ecchnique.
INTRODUCTION
Wheat being a staple food needs major focus in the farming programme to achieve self-sufficiency and to improve the income of the farming families. The impact of modern technology revealed that the cultivation in-tensity i.e. number of ploughings and plankings given to a piece of land sown un-der wheat crop, had negligible contribution towards increase in wheat yield. Sheikh et al, (1978) determined that different tillage im-plements had different effect on the emergence, yield of wheat and different tillage operations had different effects on soil physical properties such as density, moisture content and penetration resistance. With respect to soil characteristics and yield of crop, disk harrow was considered as a suitable type of implement under the condi-tions used in this study. Sial et al. (1988) found from the results of field experiments a pour performance of a power tiller for wheat crop. Bullocks and a small size tractor of 12 H.P. being uncom-fortable, slower, ineffective and were con-sidered inappropriate. A medium size trac-tor of about 50 H.P. was suggested for wheat cultivation as a suitable mode of power be-
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cause of its favourable effects on soil strength, seedling emergence and cost of production. The present study aimed at iso-lating the effect of various methods of seed bed preparation on the wheat yield. It was observed that seed bed preparation by culti-vator was found to be the most suitable since it suited to the farmers resources. The cultivators are easily available in the villages. These give higher return with less cost and the field grown with this technique con-sumes relatively lesser irrigation water. METHODOLOGY
Five experimental plots of wheat crop were sown in loam soil at the project area Shahkot under different techniques of culti-vation. There are various factors such as soil type, cultural practices, seeds, fertilizer use level, irrigation facilities, etc. which influ-ence the wheat yield. In order to see the effect of one factor, the others need to be kept constant and that is only possible when experiments are conducted under control conditions at a farm. The methods of seed bed preparation used were: i, Single ploughing of rotavalor followed by a planking.
