Effect of discs harrow use on lixisol roughness and clods sizes in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Soil tillage allows a good establishment of crops in Burkina Faso. The aim of the study conducted in Saria is evaluation of the disc harrow used for tillage in order to find ways of mitigating these negative effects. The discs harrow evaluation is done at three speeds on a lixisol in Saria. The operation is carried out at two moisture levels, 9 and 12%. Measurements are made on labor time, tillage depth and width, surface roughness and clod sizes. The results indicate that labor time per hectare decreases with speed. Between 2.2 and 10.4 km.h-1, the time goes from 4.00 h.ha-1 to 1.25 h.ha-1. Under these conditions, the soil surface roughness index varies from 1.27 at low speed to 1.06 for high speed. The size of clods increases from 1550 cm3 2.2 km.h-1 to 81 cm3 for 10.4 km.h-1. The reduction of the clods sizes makes the plots sensitive to runoff and soil erosion. Soil tillage at an average speed of 6 to 7 km.h-1 maintain the roughness and the clods sizes and makes it possible to achieve a time of 1.6 h.ha-1. The traction force is 315 DaN for 7 cm deep and 210 cm wide. It is possible to reduce labor time by increasing the tillage width and maintaining a speed of 6 km.h-1.