Case Study

This is an example where analysis showed that almost no land-shaping was required to address losses from significant ponding. The initial state is shown below. The onion crop suffered significant losses and access was restricted due to persistent wetness. The wheel ruts are sprayer runs. The furrows were effectively sealed so water could not escape.

 

The beds are perpendicular to the natural direction of flow.  The land slopes from left to right in the above picture, but the raised beds act as dams and hold the water in the furrows.

This block was surveyed by tractor using RTK-GPS. The crop was still present so the survey was up and down the beds. The bed direction is visible in the image.

 

The second image shows most of the ponding has been removed, merely by changing row direction. Because the survey included beds present at the time, they still show up in the second image. If we were to engage in land shaping, a new survey and analysis would be made after the field had been cultivated to remove compaction, ruts and beds.

The table below compares the area and depth of surface ponding of the two scenarios.

A soon as this crop was removed, the farmer cultivated to remove compaction and old beds, and re-established the beds running down the slope. A very minor amount of shaping removed the remaining ponding area.

Land levelling options

Land levelling could to be used to solve the ponding problem.

Leaving the beds running across the slope would require a significant amount of soil movement as shown below. This equates to 2,200m³ of cut or 137m³ cut per hectare.

The amount of levelling required if beds are run down the slope is massively reduced. Indeed only 180m³ of cut or 11m³/ha of cut is needed – a saving of 2,000m³.