1. Laser Land Leveling – A Technology for Resource Conservation Harminder Singh Sidhu H.Sidhu@cgiar.org

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

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

4. Recommended slopes for different soils Type of soilPercolation rate in cm/h Slope (%) Sandy7.50.3-0.5 Medium3.750.2-0.4 Heavy1.250.05-0.2

5. 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

8. 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.

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

10. 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 800 -1500 Mtr. Diameter Operating Temperature -20°C to 50°C (-4° to 122° F) Weight 3.5 Kg. (7.72 Lbs) Laser Transmitter

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

12. 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 maximum @12 VDC Laser Beam Acceptance Angle 360° Humidity100%, fully sealed, weatherproof Laser Receiver

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

18. 2.322.312.352.402.45 2.352.322.192.392.48 2.35 2.322.42 10 to 15 foot steps Surveying Map Mean Value: 2.35

22. 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 4.2512.0405.0274.032.520 Gurbachan Singh 5.58.5354.5213.254027.8 Nahar Singh 3.0 -5.0-3.75-25 Chanjit Singh 7.010.5-4.25-3.25-23.5 Iqbal Singh 9.012.5384.0203.047.425 Gurtej Singh 2.753.25-4.5-3.5-22.2 Harpal singh 8.520.0-5.0-4.0-20 Gurcharan Singh 8.015.0-5.0-3.75-25 Jagsir singh 10.013.5345.5204.041.227.27 Bikram Singh 2.57.5-4.0-3.0-25 Average 36.84.7223.540.324.1

23. 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 Singh145.53.536.4 Jai singh553.530.0 Nachattar Singh65.253.2538.1 Binder Singh3.55.53.536.4 Pal Singh55.253.533.3 Gurdev Singh25340.0 Mean5.33.436.9 Dept. of Agronomy, Agromet. and Forestry

24. 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 Singh1564.525.0 Harminder `85.5427.3 Ajmer Singh7.55.5427.3 Amrik Singh`4.56433.3 Mean5.754.128.2 Dept. of Agronomy, Agromet. and Forestry

25. DASKA, Pakistan July, 2004

26. Break even Usage of Laser Land Leveler

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

29. GROWTH OF LASER LEVELING IN PUNJAB With Due Acknowledgement to CIMMYT

30. 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%)

31. 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

32. 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

33. Thanks