The farmer starts the ridge sowing of winter wheat (Islamov A.R.)
The ridge sowing technology is applied in CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan.) in the production of wheat and other cereals. Kyrgyzstan first applied this technology with the support of the SIDA project “Support to seed development industry in Kyrgyzstan”. Further dissemination of this method was supported by the Seed Growers’ Association of Kyrgyzstan. This technology was utilized in Kyrgyzstan through the use of the Turkish seeder СBP-2,8, which forms ridges, sows and simultaneously cuts furrows to irrigate between the ridges. The ridge sowing technology creates optimal conditions for agricultural crops and provides effective furrow irrigation. This prevents excessive use of irrigation water (saving 25-30%) and irrigation erosion, which happens in the case of using flooding methods on the crop fields using common corn planters. In addition, it prevents the flooding of useful soil micro fauna, as well as saves time. Prior to irrigation or after irrigation, a tractor or agricultural machine can easily go along the irrigation furrows to spray plants with herbicides and pesticides. Ridge sowing of cereals can be implemented almost on all types of grey-brownish, grey, red, yellow soil types with middle and light mechanical composition. In addition to cereals, ridge sowing can be used for growing vegetables and legumes (including potato), as well as industrial and oil crops (sugar beet, rape, soya bean, sesame)
Depending on natural climatic conditions and biological peculiarities of the cultivated varieties, width between the ridges is about 60-70cm. 2-3 rows of seeds can be sown on the ridges with a row spacing of 15cm. Over the course of 3 years, 10 ha of land were sown by using this technology, and the wheat grain yield was not reduced in comparison to the conventional cultivation method using a corn planter. While sowing cereals with such a seeder, it is recommended to cultivate well-bushing varieties. The ridge seeder decreases the seeding rate to a minimum. The seeding rate of cereals is 100-150kg/ha instead of 200-250kg/ha when using the usual sowing method with a classical corn planter and provides additional yield of winter grain wheat up to 5 -8,3 centner/ha. Practice is documented in the frame of CACILM.
Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of this technology is to decrease irrigation erosion and to improve soil moisture content through the use of effective irrigation techniques utilizing irrigation furrows.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The main cost linked to the introduction of ridge sowing is the purchase of the ridge seeder. The establishment costs of ridge sowing are similar to the ones for conventional sowing methods using corn planters, but in the long term the maintenance costs will be far lower. The utilization of this technology includes the following operations once per vegetation period: plowing (harrowing and leveling), ridge sowing, irrigation and harvesting
Natural / human environment: This technology was implemented on the fields of the Kant local administration of the Kant Rayon in Chui Oblast by 10 land users
Location: Chui oblast, Kant rayon, Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan
No. of Technology sites analysed:
Spread of the Technology: evenly spread over an area (0.1 km²)
In a permanently protected area?:
Date of implementation: less than 10 years ago (recently)
Type of introduction
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (KGS (Kyrgyz som)) | Total costs per input (KGS (Kyrgyz som)) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Equipment | |||||
| Second hand seeder | piece | 1.0 | 3000.0 | 3000.0 | 100.0 |
| Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 3'000.0 | ||||
| Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD | 75.0 | ||||
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (KGS (Kyrgyz som)) | Total costs per input (KGS (Kyrgyz som)) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| Plowing (careful harrowing and leveling) | person/days | 8.0 | 3.4375 | 27.5 | 100.0 |
| Irrigation | person/days | 8.0 | 0.9375 | 7.5 | 100.0 |
| Equipment | |||||
| Machine use for irrigation | ha | 1.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 100.0 |
| Machine use for harvesting | ha | 1.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 100.0 |
| Plant material | |||||
| Seeds (150kg/ha) | ha | 1.0 | 37.5 | 37.5 | 100.0 |
| Fertilizers and biocides | |||||
| Fertilizer (100kg/ha) | ha | 1.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 |
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 142.5 | ||||
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD | 3.56 | ||||
Quantity before SLM: 0
Quantity after SLM: 5-8 centner/ha
Quantity before SLM: 2
Quantity after SLM: 3
Quantity before SLM: 0
Quantity after SLM: 50
Quantity before SLM: None
Quantity after SLM: 10
