Laser Land Leveling – A Technology for Resource Conservation Harminder Singh Sidhu

Need to Motivate the Planners & Policy makers Current water shortage Extremely Slow pace of water resource development Needs/Issues For

Enhance water productivity at field level Efficient utilization of available water sources Develop Strategies Best option to redress the water scarcity

Recommended slopes for different soils Type of soilPercolation rate in cm/h Slope (%) Sandy Medium Heavy

Land looks leveled but even then wide topographic variation exists Wide variability in crop yields at field/ village/ block/ district/ regional level Better distribution of water Water savings Improvement in nutrient use efficiencies Option for Precision Farming Higher crop productivity Why Laser Leveling

What is laser leveling? Laser land leveling is leveling the field within certain degree of desired slope using a guided laser beam through out the field.

Components in Laser leveling Laser Transmitter Laser eye receiver Laser receiver Control box Double acting hydraulic valve Drag scraper

Laser Type 670 nm visible, class 1/2 Self Leveling Electronics servo, + 5° range Accuracy + 10 arc second + 1.5mm per 30 m ( +1/16 in per100 ft) Battery Life Alkaline or NiMH (50 Hrs.) Operating Range Mtr. Diameter Operating Temperature -20°C to 50°C (-4° to 122° F) Weight 3.5 Kg. (7.72 Lbs) Laser Transmitter

Operating Temperature 20°C to 55°C Weight340 Gm Battery Life100 Hrs. Normal Operation Detection 180° Laser-Eye® Receiver

Temperature Operating & Storage -40°C to +71°C (-40°F to +160°F) -55°C to +85°C (-67°F to +185°F) Weight<2.8 kg (6.3 lb) Electrical Input Voltage 9 to 30 V DC Operating Current 500mA VDC Laser Beam Acceptance Angle 360° Humidity100%, fully sealed, weatherproof Laser Receiver

Operating Temperature-28°C to +71°C (-20° F to 160° F) Weight2.5 KG (5.6 Lbs.) Electrical Input12V or 24V DC (10 Amp maxim.) Electrical Output12V or 24V DC (4.5 Amp/Valve Output) Control Box

Operating Temperature -28°C to +50°C (- 20° F to 122°F) Weight2.5 KG (5.6 Lbs.) Electrical Input 12V or 24V DC (10 Amp maxim.) Electrical Output 12V or 24V DC (4.5 Amp/Valve Output) Double Acting Hydraulic Control Valve

Weight550 Kg Height2.5 ft. Width6 ft. Depth2 ft. Drag Scrapper

Specification Horsepower required50 hp range Width of coverage6 ft Capacity depends on initial condition of field Cost of equipment (Rs)3,50,000

to 15 foot steps Surveying Map Mean Value: 2.35

Name of the farmers Laser LevelingBefore LevelingAfter Leveling% Time Saving Area (acers) Time (h) Canal (min) Tube well, (h) Canal (min) Tube well, (h) Canal (min) Tube well, (h) Hari Singh Gurbachan Singh Nahar Singh Chanjit Singh Iqbal Singh Gurtej Singh Harpal singh Gurcharan Singh Jagsir singh Bikram Singh Average

Use of Laser Land Leveler at Gurusar Kaonke command area (Distt. Ludhiana) Farmer’s nameTotal area (Acres) Time taken for one irrigation/ acre rice (Hours) % Time saved for one irrigation Farmer practice After leveling with laser land leveler Jagmohan Singh Jai singh Nachattar Singh Binder Singh Pal Singh Gurdev Singh Mean Dept. of Agronomy, Agromet. and Forestry

Use of Laser Land Leveler at Nurpur Bet command area (Distt. Ludhiana) Farmer’s nameTotal area (acres) Time taken for one irrigation/ acre rice (Hours) Time saved for one irrigation (Hours) Farmer practice After leveling with laser land leveler Surinder Singh Harminder ` Ajmer Singh Amrik Singh` Mean Dept. of Agronomy, Agromet. and Forestry

DASKA, Pakistan July, 2004

Break even Usage of Laser Land Leveler

Some new Interventions – Double tyre – more 25% Field capacity

GROWTH OF LASER LEVELING IN PUNJAB With Due Acknowledgement to CIMMYT

Benefits Improved Crop Establishment Uniform Crop Maturity Increased Productivity Increased Yield Reduced Chemical Run-off Assist in Top Soil Management Increased in Cultivable area (2% - 3%)

Increase in Water application efficiency Saving in irrigation water, (20 – 30%) Better crop stand Improved weed control efficiency Less area under bunds/ridges Very good for Bed/Ridge Farming Reduced labor requirement for irrigation Totally Automatic (less load on operator) Farmers Response

Limitations High cost of the equipment/laser instrument Needs training to the operator to set/adjust laser and operate the tractor More efficient for regularly sized and shaped field Few custom operators

Thanks