1. Land Preparation Operations
You may start by reviewing Key Check 1.
Part 1: Understanding the PalayCheck System

2. Can rice grow in this field?
Ask participants why they think the field is or is not ready for planting. Then ask their observations on the land (soil, weeds, etc.) that will justify their answer. You may list the observations on the whiteboard to remind them.
What do you observe?

3. To prepare the land well for planting…
TILLAGE
Loosens soil mass to facilitate good root development
Incorporates organic matter and fertilizers to the soil
Kills weeds and pests through plowing
Facilitates good water drainage and distribution [better field operations, better harvest quality]

4. Where can you easily pass through?
IMAGINE THIS
Where can you easily pass through?
The people represent the soil, you are the roots.

5. A well-prepared land can be achieved by:
Primary tillage – initial cutting of the soil where crop has been grown and harvested.
Field after first plowing

6. A well-prepared land can be achieved by:
Secondary tillage – subsequent cultivation of soil after primary tillage. This operation breaks soil clods to incorporate materials thoroughly into the soil.
Field after secondary dry working

7. Tillage: 3 ways
Wetland tillage – soil is tilled in saturated or flooded condition. This is the usual way.
Dryland tillage – done in upland/rainfed fields to obtain mellow, firm seedbed for seeds to germinate, control weeds, and incorporate materials into the soil.
Wetland and Dryland combination

8. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Clean the field
Cleaning of Dikes
Scattering of straw
REMEMBER: Dikes must be cleaned to remove pest and compacted to prevent seepage

9. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Soak the field
Submerge at least 3 days to soften soil clods. Let water drain naturally to allow weed seeds to germinate.

10. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Plow the field
While field is submerged, plow counterclockwise, finishing at the center.
Explain that a carabao can plow 50 km in 5 days, the power tiller can plow 1 ha a day.

11. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Side plow
For areas not reached by normal plowing
Do it in an opposite direction to the normal plowing
Explain the time and effort consumed in each power resource used; carabao consumes about 4 hrs, while the tiller takes 1.65 hours to finish 1,040 sq. m.

12. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Harrow the field
1st harrowing is done along plowing pattern
2nd harrowing is done crosswise

13. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Repair dikes
Repair the dike to impound water particularly where water supply is not dependable
Manage rats too.

14. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Level the field
Optional: final harrowing
Harrow
Level the field
After plowing
Done at least a day before planting
Lengthwise and crosswise until soil is well-puddled.
Use wooden plank or riding leveler.
To assess, level the field with 2 – 5 cm depth of water

15. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Level the field
A properly-leveled field facilitates uniform water and fertilizer distribution and plant maturity, and management of weeds and golden apple snails.

16. Major Wetland Tillage Activities
Clean the field
Soak the field
Repair dikes
Plow the field, side-plow
Harrow
Level the field

17. Major Dryland Tillage Activities
Just similar to wetland tillage
minus
soaking the field/irrigation
Plow the field
Harrow
field
Repair dikes
Cleaning
Level field
(Optional)

18. Dryland Tillage Major Activities
Plow the field/Initial Tillage [dry preparation]
2ha/day
Plow as soon as enough rain has fallen.

19. Dryland Tillage Major Activities
Secondary tillage [dry preparation]
Secondary tillage will make sure soil is pulverized.
Weed seeds are allowed to germinate before field is harrowed again.

20. Dryland Tillage Major Activities
Level the field
Level before planting.
Dry-seeding will be efficient if soil is well pulverized and leveled.

21. Dryland Tillage Major Activities
(Optional)
Plow the field
Harrow
field
Repair dikes
Cleaning
Level field

22. Major dryland-wetland combi activities
It’s a combination of methods for partially-irrigated fields.
Soil is pulverized while waiting for the rain/irrigation to come. Hand tractors with rotavator can help.
The rest of the tillage operations are done in submerged fields.

23. Let’s compare methods Wetland Dryland Combination Clean the field
Soak the field
Side plow/plow the field
Harrow the field
Repair dikes
Level the field
Clean the field
Side plow/plow the field
Harrow the field
Repair dikes
Level the field
Clean the field
Rotavate land while waiting for the rain
Plow when moisture is available
Harrow the field
Repair dikes
Level the field

24. Let’s compare benefits
Wetland
Dryland
Combination
Controls weeds
Incorporates organic materials & fertilizers to soil
Makes seeding/
transplanting easier
Forms a hard layer (plow pan) which reduces water loss (percolation) during subsequent flooding
Controls weeds
Incorporates organic materials & fertilizers to soil
Makes seeding easier
Conserves irrigation water
Reduces number of operation
Controls weeds
Incorporates organic materials & fertilizers to soil
Conserves irrigation water
Reduces number of operation
Reduces GAS populations
Forms hard pan which reduces percolation loss

25. Let’s compare costs Wetland Dryland Combination P 4,500 per hectare
(3 passings)
Dryland
Combination
P 6,200 per hectare

26. ? Which method to choose Consider these: Water availability
Power resources
Cost
Soil type/characteristics

27. ? CONSIDER THIS If the farmer has these: soil type: silt + sandy
available water source: shallow tube well
Machine: hand tractor ?
What is the best method to use?

28. CONSIDER THIS Soil type Water availability Power resources
If soil is silty and sandy (‘galas’)
DRYLAND or COMBINATION is best
If soil is heavily clayey(‘lagkit’)
WETLAND is best
Water availability
If irrigated  WETLAND is best
If partially-irrigated (shallow tube well, etc.)
 COMBINATION is best
Thus, for the situation above, combination of dryland and wetland tillage is best
Power resources
In irrigated fields, it is not advisable to use heavy equipment all the time.

29. Dr. Aurora Corales; Engr. Arnold Juliano; Mrs. Anita Antonio
CREDITS
Instructional presentation designer: Ms. Ella Lois Bestil
Sources of technical content/reviewers of presentation:
Dr. Aurora Corales; Engr. Arnold Juliano; Mrs. Anita Antonio
Note:
Adapted from a powerpoint presentation developed by: Dr. Manuel Jose Regalado, Engr. Eugenio Castro (IRRI), Dr. Aurora Corales, Engr. Arnold Juliano
You may use, remix, tweak, For more information, visit:
& build upon this presentation non-commercially. However, always use with acknowledgment.
Unless otherwise stated, the names listed are PhilRice staffers.
Produced in 2011.
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