ABSTRACT
Tillage is the preparation of soil for plant emergence, plant development and unimpeded root growth. The selection of an appropriate tillage practice for the production of crops is very important for optimum growth and yield. A good soil management programme prevents the soil from water and wind erosion and provides a good weed-free seedbed for planting. The Gavin Armstrong plough was introduced to Ethiopia by the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ). It is a primary tillage implement which can perform deep-ploughing, harrowing and seed covering. The implement was developed by combining traditional maresha plough parts, such as its wooden beam, handle and double diggers, with a common Gavin plough. Analysis of draught force of all the implements during the tillage experiment showed significant difference in terms of working width. No-tillage had the lowest cumulative infiltration, while Gavin and mouldboard ploughs have better cumulative infiltration. Penetration resistance increased with tillage depth.
