The Land and Water Management Technology : Broadbed-and-Furrows for Groundnut
Broadbed-and-furrows are prepared by an animal-drawn ridger, mounted on a tool carrier (e.g., Tropicultor or Agribar), or by tractor-drawn implements with ridgers. Two ridgers should be fastened to a tool bar so that the top of the bed is 1.2 m-wide, and the distance from the center of one furrow to the center of the next is 1.5 m. The furrows should be at least 15-cm deep. The broadbed-and-furrows must be prepared with a 0.6-0.8% graded slope. All furrows should end in an adequate drainage system. To start making broadbed-and-furrows, determine the slope of the field and lay out the key line. Leave a 30-cm border in one corner of the field. Follow the key line to the other end of the field, and lift the tool bar before turning. Now place one wheel in the previous furrow and move back to the starting end of the field. Lift the tool bar again to turn and make another new broadbed-and-furrow. Repeat this process till all broadbed-and-furrows are complete in the field. Bed cultivation before sowing can be completed by fitting a 1.2-m blade harrow with a
ridger behind each wheel, and by fitting a heavy chain between the ridging plows. Hand
sowing can be done by opening furrows on the broadbed, 30-cm apart. To open furrows, four
v-shaped (5-cm wide by 7.5-cm deep) openers made of wood or angle irons may be fitted on a
wooden plank. The openers are adjusted to 30 cm between points. Seeds are sown at a
distance of 8-10 cm in the row, depending on seed requirements for the desired population.
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The broadbed-and-furrows system of cultivation
is especially suitable for Vertisols (deep black soils) since it optimizes water use;
furrows drain away excess water, yet allowing enough water to soak into the soil.
