Objectives of Primary Tillage in Indian Agriculture
Following harvest operations, soil surfaces become compacted by farm vehicle traffic, livestock trampling, and repeated wetting and drying cycles.
Primary tillage breaks up this dense, compacted soil profile, improving rainwater infiltration, burying previous crop residues to accelerate microbial decomposition, and bringing deeper soil horizons to the surface for solarization.
- Deep soil inversion: Cuts and turns soil slices from 15 to 30 cm depth, creating loose root beds
- Weed eradication: Inverts topsoil to bury weed seeds and dislodge deep perennial weed roots
- Pest control: Exposes overwintering insect pupae, white grubs, and fungal pathogens to solar heat and birds
- Porosity enhancement: Increases macro-pore volume, accelerating monsoon rainwater infiltration
Major Tractor-Drawn Primary Tillage Implements
Modern primary tillage implements are engineered from high-strength forged boron steel to withstand continuous soil draft resistance.
Selecting the appropriate implement depends on tractor engine horsepower, soil moisture, and whether the field contains rocky obstacles or heavy roots.
- Mouldboard (MB) Plough: Inverts soil slices completely, burying top residues and creating distinct open furrows
- Reversible Hydraulic MB Plough: Features dual opposing mouldboard sets allowing continuous furrow inversion without dead furrows
- Disc Plough: Heavy concave revolving discs suited for hard, stony, dry, or root-infested ground where MB shares would chip
- Chisel Plough: Deep curved tynes shattering hardpan soils down to 35-40 cm without inverting subsoil layers
- Subsoiler: Heavy single or twin-shank implement breaking deep subterranean plough pans down to 50-60 cm depth
Tractor Horsepower Matching and Operational Moisture
Operating primary tillage implements requires matching tractor draft capacity with implement bottom count to prevent wheel slippage and fuel waste.
Primary tillage must be conducted when soil moisture is at approximately 50 to 60 percent of field capacity, allowing soil to crumble friably without forming sticky plastic masses or unmanageable clods.
- Horsepower matching: 2-bottom MB plough matched to 35-45 HP; 3-bottom plough matched to 55+ HP tractors
- Moisture check: Soil should form a ball when squeezed in the palm but crumble easily under thumb pressure
- Operational speed: Maintain steady working speeds of 4 to 6 km/h in low-range gears
- SMAM Subsidies: 40 to 50 percent government capital subsidies on certified primary tillage machinery
Official source
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Common questions
What is the primary difference between a mouldboard plough and a disc plough?
A mouldboard plough completely inverts soil slices in clean, stone-free fields, while a disc plough uses revolving discs that roll over stones, roots, and hard ground without breaking.
What is the operational advantage of a reversible hydraulic MB plough?
A reversible plough allows the tractor to return along the same furrow in the opposite direction, eliminating dead furrows and leaving a uniform, flat field surface.
Why is a subsoiler used once every 3 to 4 years?
A subsoiler penetrates 50 to 60 cm deep to shatter the dense subterranean plough pan compacted by heavy tractor wheels, restoring drainage and deep taproot penetration.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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