Page 511 - Biosystems Engineering

Agricultur e Management 483

of seeds should be maintained to reduce the contact of the seedlings
with each other during germination to a minimum level. This is espe-
cially important because large seeds, diseased seeds, and seedlings,
which may affect healthy seeds, may be removed before final count.
Germination Method Using Soil
Soil may be considered as the substrate, which is sometimes used to
confirm the evaluation of seedlings in doubtful cases and for testing
samples that produce seedlings with phytotoxic symptoms when
germinated on paper or sand.
Water should be added until the consistency of the soil is such
that the ball formed by squeezing it in the palm of the hand is easily
broken when pressed between two fingers. After the soil is wet, it
should be rubbed through a sieve and put into a container without
packing.

17.2.4 Agricultural Mechanization
Agricultural mechanization is a process used to increase farm output.
In the modern era, powered machinery has replaced many tedious
and time-consuming farm operations carried out by humans or ani-
mals. The first pervasive mechanization of agriculture came with the
introduction of the plough, usually powered by animals. Invention of
engines brought a major change in mechanization. Current mecha-
nized agriculture practices include the use of airplanes, helicopters,
trucks, tractors, and combine harvesters among other vehicles. Almost
all such mechanization has led to the following broad conclusions:
1. Farm mechanization led to an increase in input on account of
higher average cropping intensity and larger area and increased
productivity of farm labor.
2. Farm mechanization increased agricultural production and
profitability on account of timely operation, better quality of
work done, and more efficient utilization of inputs.
3. Farm mechanization has led to a serious reduction of the
number of people employed in agriculture. The cultivated
area per farm has increased while the number of farms and
the number of people per farm has decreased.
4. Farm mechanization displaced animal power to the extent of 50
to 100 percent from place to place. The time spent per ha has
been reduced, but thanks to mechanization farms have grown.
Farm implements and machines include all tools, implements,
and machines used in agriculture to produce crops. Some important
and generally used farm implements and machines for tilling the soil
will be described in what follows.