Sowing, care and irrigation

Inter-row cultivation strongly affects plant growth and yield. A cultivator removes crust, loosens soil, lets roots breathe, keeps moisture and destroys weeds. It consists of frames, working parts, support wheels and fertilising mechanisms. The distance from the middle of a plant row to the working parts is called the protective zone; it is chosen by crop so the plants are not damaged. While working, the working parts must run at the set depth, must not bring the moist layer up, must cut weeds completely and must not damage or bury the crop. For 60 cm row spacing, each main space gets two arrow-shaped sweeps and the middle gets a blade or sweep. The rotary disc’s needle-like teeth sit 3–5 cm from the plant rows. A cultivator also applies fertiliser (15–28 cm from the row at first feeding, 20–22 cm later) and opens irrigation furrows. A tractor-hitched cultivator works with the tractor: children do not go near, and a hand cultivator is used in gloves as an adult or teacher shows.