Laser Land Leveling A Technology for Resource Conservation

Harminder Singh Sidhu Sr. Agricultural Engineer H.Sidhu@cgiar.org

An Agricultural Hub for the region - a vehicle for Second Green Revolution

Needs/Issues
Extremely Slow pace of water resource development

Current water shortage

Need to Motivate the Planners & Policy makers

For

Efficient utilization of available water sources

Develop Strategies
Enhance water productivity at field level

Best option to redress the water scarcity

Recommended slopes for different soils

Type of soil Sandy Medium Heavy Percolation rate in cm/h 7.5 3.75 1.25 Slope (%) 0.3-0.5 0.2-0.4 0.05-0.2

Why Laser Leveling

Land looks leveled but even then wide topographic variation exists Wide variability in crop yields at field/ village/ block/ district/ regional level Better distribution of water Water savings Improvement in nutrient use efficiencies Option for Precision Farming Higher crop productivity

What is laser leveling?

Laser land leveling is leveling the field within certain degree of desired slope using a guided laser beam through out the field.

Components in Laser leveling

Laser Transmitter Laser eye receiver Laser receiver Control box Double acting hydraulic valve Drag scraper

Laser Transmitter
Laser Type Self Leveling Accuracy
670 nm visible, class 1/2 Electronics servo, + 5 range + 10 arc second + 1.5mm per 30 m ( +1/16 in per100 ft) Alkaline or NiMH (50 Hrs.) 800 -1500 Mtr. Diameter

Battery Life Operating Range Operating Temperature Weight

-20C to 50C (-4 122 F) 3.5 Kg. (7.72 Lbs)

to

Laser-Eye Receiver

Operating Temperature Weight Battery Life

20C to 55C 340 Gm 100 Hrs. Normal Operation 180

Detection

Laser Receiver
Temperature Operating & Storage -40C to +71C (-40F to +160F) -55C to +85C (-67F to +185F) <2.8 kg (6.3 lb) 9 to 30 V DC

Weight Electrical Input Voltage Operating Current Laser Beam Acceptance Angle Humidity

500mA maximum @12 VDC 360

100%, fully sealed, weatherproof

Control Box

Operating Temperature Weight Electrical Input Electrical Output

-28C to +71C (-20 F to 160 F) 2.5 KG (5.6 Lbs.) 12V or 24V DC (10 Amp maxim.) 12V or 24V DC (4.5 Amp/Valve Output)

Double Acting Hydraulic Control Valve

Operating -28C to +50C (Temperature 20 F to 122F) Weight Electrical Input Electrical Output 2.5 KG (5.6 Lbs.) 12V or 24V DC (10 Amp maxim.) 12V or 24V DC (4.5 Amp/Valve Output)

Drag Scrapper

Weight Height Width Depth

550 Kg 2.5 ft. 6 ft. 2 ft.

Specification
Horsepower required Width of coverage Cost of equipment (Rs) 50 hp range 6 ft 3,50,000

Capacity depends on initial condition of field

Surveying Map
Mean Value: 2.35

2.32

2.31

2.35

2.40

2.45

2.35

2.32

2.19

2.39

2.48

2.35

2.35

2.32

2.42

2.42

10 to 15 foot steps

60.00

55.00

50.00

45.00

40.00

35.00

30.00

25.00

20.00

15.00 15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

45.00

50.00

55.00

60.00

Name of the farmers

Laser Leveling Area (acers) 4.25 5.5 3.0 7.0 9.0 2.75 8.5 8.0 10.0 2.5 Time (h) 12.0 8.5 3.0 10.5 12.5 3.25 20.0 15.0 13.5 7.5

Before Leveling Canal (min) 40 35 38 34 36.8 Tube well, (h) 5.0 4.5 5.0 4.25 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.0 5.5 4.0 4.7

After Leveling Canal (min) 27 21 20 20 22 Tube well, (h) 4.0 3.25 3.75 3.25 3.0 3.5 4.0 3.75 4.0 3.0 3.5

% Time Saving Canal (min) 32.5 40 47.4 41.2 40.3 Tube well, (h) 20 27.8 25 23.5 25 22.2 20 25 27.27 25 24.1

Hari Singh Gurbachan Singh Nahar Singh Chanjit Singh Iqbal Singh Gurtej Singh Harpal singh Gurcharan Singh Jagsir singh Bikram Singh Average

Use of Laser Land Leveler at Gurusar Kaonke command area (Distt. Ludhiana)
Farmers name Total area (Acres) 14 5 6 3.5 5 2 Time taken for one irrigation/ acre rice (Hours) Farmer practice 5.5 5 5.25 5.5 5.25 5 5.3 After leveling with laser land leveler 3.5 3.5 3.25 3.5 3.5 3 3.4 % Time saved for one irrigation 36.4 30.0 38.1 36.4 33.3 40.0 36.9

Jagmohan Singh Jai singh Nachattar Singh Binder Singh Pal Singh Gurdev Singh Mean

Dept. of Agronomy, Agromet. and Forestry

Use of Laser Land Leveler at Nurpur Bet command area (Distt. Ludhiana)
Farmers name Total area (acres) Time taken for one irrigation/ acre rice (Hours) Farmer practice 6 5.5 5.5 6 5.75 After leveling with laser land leveler 4.5 4 4 4 4.1 Time saved for one irrigation (Hours) 25.0 27.3 27.3 33.3 28.2

Surinder Singh Harminder ` Ajmer Singh Amrik Singh` Mean

15 8 7.5 4.5

Dept. of Agronomy, Agromet. and Forestry

DASKA, Pakistan

July, 2004

Break even Usage of Laser Land Leveler

2000.0 Total Cost Rs/h (Without T) Total Cost Rs/h (With T) Custom Hiring Rate Rs/h 1500.0

Cost (Rs/h)

500 h/year
1000.0

1300 h/year

500.0

0.0 100 300 500 700 900 1100 1300 1500 1700 1900 2100 2300 2500 2700 2900

Annual Usage (h)

Modification fro V type attachment to Y type attachment

Reduction in Turning Radius by

27 %
(10.35 m to 7.55 m)

To Tractor To Hydraulic Cylinder

Farmers Response
Increase in Water application efficiency Saving in irrigation water, (20 30%) Better crop stand Improved weed control efficiency Less area under bunds/ridges Very good for Bed/Ridge Farming Reduced labor requirement for irrigation Totally Automatic (less load on operator)

Was Limitations
High cost of the equipment/laser instrument Needs training to the operator to set/adjust laser and operate the tractor More efficient for regularly sized and shaped field Few custom operators

Some new Interventions Double tyre more 25% Field capacity

Benefits
Improved Crop Establishment Uniform Crop Maturity Increased Productivity Increased Yield Reduced Chemical Run-off Assist in Top Soil Management Increased in Cultivable area (2% - 3%)

> 12000 machines in south Asia

Growth of Laser Leveling in Punjab - Created Market Conditions for Pvt. Sector

With Due Acknowledgement to CIMMYT

Thanks