Context: Recently, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute dedicated a tractor-operated spading machine to the nation.
Need

• The first activity in any crop cultivation practice is the tilling of soil to make a desirable seed bed for germination of seeds or seedlings.
• However, a major part of tractor energy is utilized in seed bed operation leading to high operating cost for farmers.
• Hence, the Spading Machine has been developed at CMERI to reduce the cost of tillage operation and improve its effectiveness.

Advantages of Tractor Operated Spading Machine

• Firstly, as compared to other tillage implements, the machine forms no compaction of subsurface soil and improves the aerobic quality and drainage of soil.
• Secondly, the machine can incorporate large organic material due to its homogeneous working and uniform turning of soil.
• Thirdly, the machine is less compacted in subsurface soil layers thereby eliminating the need for subsoiling.
• Subsoiling is a practice that breaks up soil, usually 12-18″ deep, to allow increased water movement, better aeration of the roots and access to additional minerals and nutrients for plant growth.