The Utilisation of Tractor-Mounted Primary Tillage Implements in the Malkerns Valley, Swaziland

Abstract

The study was primarily aimed at determining the utilization of tractor-mounted primary tillage implements in Swaziland using 14 case study forms in the Malkerns Valley. Being descriptive in nature, the study employed scheduled personal interviews and questionnaires that were developed, pre-tested and administered by the authors. The results showed that the 38 primary tillage implements found on the 14 case study farms were ploughs, disc harrows and rippers or subsoilers forming 44.7%, 34.2% and 21.1% respectively. The predominant makes of these implements were Massey Ferguson, John Deere, S.A. Wonder and Safim, while the others were Case, Leyland, C.G. Tillage and Agri-Tech. It was evident from the results that these implements were selected on the basis of their design, prevailing farm conditions and personal preferences of the farmers. Operation of the implements took place on soil types ranging from sand clays to heavy clays on a total land area of 1461 ha. The operation was aided by a total of 39 tractors of the makes, Massey Ferguson, John Deere, Case, Leyland and Ford. Even though the primary tillage implements were adjusted in the farm and in the field for depth, cutting width, gang angle and tilting angle, it was evident from the results that the majority of the implements were extremely under utilized.

UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol. 4 (1) 2000: pp 34-43