1. LAND PREPARATION TECHNIQUES FOR PADDY CULTIVATION

2. THE LAND PREPARATION IS….
Land preparation in paddy cultivation is a combination of tillage practices that places the soil in the best physical condition for plant establishment and crop growth.

3. FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN LAND PREPARATION
Cost and sustainability
Soil types/characteristics
Power resources
Method of crop establishment
Water availability or supply

4. THE AIM OF THE LAND PREPARATION IS….
To place the soil in the best physical condition for crop growth and  to ensure that the soil surface is left level.
Then the surround field is flooded until the water level is approximately 1-2 cm high and allowed to sit for a few days

5. Charachacterististics of well prepared paddy land
Weeds, rice straw, and stubbles are thoroughly decomposed and incorporated into the soil.
Soil is well-puddled and leveled.

6. Importance of a well-prepared field
To protect the plants from effects of high concentration of harmful substances generated by decomposing organic matters.
To allow plants to utilize nutrients released during decomposition of organic matters.
To allow volunteer or drop seeds and weed seeds to germinate and eventually destroyed, to avoid competitions and produce high purity product.
To properly employ integrated pest management.
To effectively use the irrigation water.
To efficiently use applied fertilizers.
To ensure even crop maturity.

7. LAND PREPARATION IN RICE CULTIvATION
Land preparaton of rice mainly consist of three steps.
Primary land preparation
Secondry land preparation
Tertiary land preparation

8. Primary land preparation
Objectives
Inverting the soil for required depth
Bury the weeds into the soil
Equipments used
Use only the suitable equipments for land preparation, if not it may effects to the final yield
Mammoty,mould plough Or disc plough for two wheel tractor, traditional plough

9. Secondary land preparation
Objectives
To remove weeds
To break the large soil particles into smaller particles
Secondary land preparation should be done 7-10 days prior to broadcasting or transplanting
Before this process the bunds and drains in the field must be cleaned.

10. Secondary land preparation
Must done in a transverse direction to that of primary land preparation
Equipments use
If two wheel tractor is used for this purpose a rotary can be used and if buffaloes are used traditional plough can be used

11. Tertiary land preparation
It is the leveling of the paddy field
1st using the toothed harrower then using the a leveling harrower
Excess water in the field must removed before harrowing
Next apply basal fertilizer mixture and harrow should be done
Objective of adding fertilizer before harrowing is to allow the fertilizers to get mixed in the soil well

12. More about tertiary land preparation
Field must be harrowed and leveled properly
By leveling the water level of the field can be managed even through out the field
Helps to control weeds, increase the efficiency of fertilizer applied

13. Contd ,
The harrowed and leveled fields should be kept at least one day to allow sedimentation
Broadcasting or transplanting can be done after draining the excess water

14. Ways of preparing rice fields
Wetland preparation It is the usual way of preparing lowland fields for planting. The soil is tilled in a saturated or flooded condition.

15. Steps in Land Preparation
Wet Land Preparation
Clean and repair the dikes, Irrigate the field to soften the soil suitable for tillage.
Perform primary tillage operation
Submerge the field to soften the clods and to decompose organic materials. Harrow the field 2-3 times at 5-7 days interval
The first harrowing is done along the plowing pattern to break the soil clods.
The second harrowing is done crosswise to incorporate crop residues, eradicate newly emerged weeds, and perform initial leveling.
The final harrowing aims to finally incorporate crop residues and provide proper soil tilth for crop growth.
Level the field by using animal-drawn wooden plank or the riding-type leveler. A well-leveled field contributes to proper management of water, nutrient, and pests (like golden apple snail and weeds). It also contributes to even plant growth and grain maturity.

16. DRY LAND PREPARATION 
This is usually done to obtain a mellow, firm seedbed for sown seeds to germinate in, control weeds, and incorporate organic materials into the soil.
This is for both lowland and upland fields where the soil is dry

17. Dryland preparation steps
Clean and repair the dike.
prepare the field whenever the residual moisture permits the operation.
In most cases, farmers prefer the discs harrow trailed by a 4-wheel tractor because of its field capacity (larger swath and faster operation).
. In some cases, a rotavator mounted to a 4-wheel tractor is used especially for weedy fields.
. Harrowing can be done with the use of spiked-tooth harrow.
If the succeeding field operations will employ wetland preparation,

18. Advantages and disadvantages of wetland and dryland preparation
Wetland preparation
- Improves weed control
- Facilitates incorporation of organic materials and soil amendments
- Provides good soil condition for crop establishment
- Requires more water
- Destroys soil structure
- Unfavorable for subsequent establishment of rice-based crops
Dryland preparation
- Requires less water
- Helps control golden apple snail
- Improves soil aeration
- Requires big machines
- Limited suitable farm equipment

19. Nawa Kekulama Method
Dry sowing of paddy in aswedumised fields is known as kekulama in Sri Lanka.
When dry sowing is done in highland under shifting cultivation it is called vee hena.

20. New features in Nawa Kakulama
Not clearing and re-plastering
Bund Minimal or zero tillage
Mulching the fields soon after sowing

21. LAND PREPARATION METHOD IN UPCOUNTRY
Limited extent of land is the main difference.
land preparation for rice in up country is name as “THAL KETEEMA”
Very small paddy fields located due to natural geographical location

22. Machinery use in land preparation for paddy cultivation
Tillage equipments
Plough
Leveller Disk plough
Tine plough
Mouldboard plough
Harrower
Reeper
Tillage equipments
Plough
Leveller Disk plough
Tine plough
Mouldboard plough
Harrower
Reeper
Tillage equipments
Plough
Leveller Disk plough
Tine plough
Mouldboard plough
Harrower
Reeper

23. Contd… Rotavator for four wheel tractor Used for secondary workings
Used for both upland and flooded fields
Have aggressive action
Pulverizes the soil and buries weeds and crop residues
In some flooded situations, this used for primary tillage

24. Contd… Two wheel tractor Plough for two wheel tractor Rodger Wheels
Barrel wheels and mud wheels

25. STATUS OF MECHANIZATION IN LAND PREPARATION IN PADDY CULTIVATION IN SRI LANKA
Level of mechanization is 87%
Final leveling done by manual or animal power

26. Average power requirements for land preparation
Primary tillage -15hp/ha/day for days
Secondary tillage -10hp/ha/day for 8.13 days
Puddling and leveling -10hp/ha/day for 8.13 days
Total duration required for land preparation using power is days

27. THANK YOU