Benefits of cultivation
Some may question if this product truly has a market or solves a problem for subsistence farmers. Even though there has been a lot of research into no till farming and ideas similar, there are still a lot of benefits to cultivating soil before planting. As this product goes along through the field it churns the dirt as the wheels pass through. This churning of the soil loosens the dirt which benefits root growth in plants due to the ease the roots will have passing through the soil getting deeper and larger. Any larger organic materials that may be lay in the dirt can now be further incorporated into the soil so as it continues to decay and release nutrients, the organic matter is closer to the roots of the crop so the nutrients can be better utilized. With the soil being loosened any rainfall will better penetrate the soil instead of just sitting on top the earth or running off. (Lee, 2014)
Benefits to Row Planting
Row planting is the practice of planting crops in straight rows and this practice would be especially easy with the use of this suggested product. As said before as the wheels pass through the soil in a churning motion, the wheels also guide the dirt into a row. So, with a couple passes with the product, row planting could happen right afterwards. There are benefits to planting in rows other than just aesthetics, for one, the rows could be angled in such a way to match the travel of the sun. Planting in an east west direction would allow light to reach all plants, minimizing other crops shading out crops to allow even growth in the field (Bareja, 2011). Planting in rows allows easier access to the growing crop, being able to walk through the rows and weed, or remove troublesome infected plants. As well as light being able to pass through, planting in rows increases the airflow in between the rows, this can increase the gas exchange of the photosynthetic process. The air flow also limits the level of humidity within the rows which could decrease the growth of fungi that thrive in humid environments (Bareja, 2011).
Some may question if this product truly has a market or solves a problem for subsistence farmers. Even though there has been a lot of research into no till farming and ideas similar, there are still a lot of benefits to cultivating soil before planting. As this product goes along through the field it churns the dirt as the wheels pass through. This churning of the soil loosens the dirt which benefits root growth in plants due to the ease the roots will have passing through the soil getting deeper and larger. Any larger organic materials that may be lay in the dirt can now be further incorporated into the soil so as it continues to decay and release nutrients, the organic matter is closer to the roots of the crop so the nutrients can be better utilized. With the soil being loosened any rainfall will better penetrate the soil instead of just sitting on top the earth or running off. (Lee, 2014)
Benefits to Row Planting
Row planting is the practice of planting crops in straight rows and this practice would be especially easy with the use of this suggested product. As said before as the wheels pass through the soil in a churning motion, the wheels also guide the dirt into a row. So, with a couple passes with the product, row planting could happen right afterwards. There are benefits to planting in rows other than just aesthetics, for one, the rows could be angled in such a way to match the travel of the sun. Planting in an east west direction would allow light to reach all plants, minimizing other crops shading out crops to allow even growth in the field (Bareja, 2011). Planting in rows allows easier access to the growing crop, being able to walk through the rows and weed, or remove troublesome infected plants. As well as light being able to pass through, planting in rows increases the airflow in between the rows, this can increase the gas exchange of the photosynthetic process. The air flow also limits the level of humidity within the rows which could decrease the growth of fungi that thrive in humid environments (Bareja, 2011).