The use of disc plows in agricultural areas surrounding the city of Tripoli and the extent of farmer's awareness of its negative effects

Abstract

This study was under taken to determine the knowledge and practice of the use of disc plows in agricultural areas surrounding the city of Tripoli and the extent of farmers' awareness of its negative effects.Study questionnaires were distributed and collected during the period from 01/11/2017 to 30/4/2018 and were analyzed to find out the prevalence of use of disc plows in the study area and the extent of farmers ’awareness of the negative effects and their random use. The study included areas near the capital, Tripoli, which are considered within the Jaffara Plain, which is located northwest of Tripoli. The results were that 63% of farms use disc plows of both types of disc plows (with three discs) and vertical disc plows (with seven discs), while 35% use only vertical disc plows (seven discs), and a small percentage of them use disc plows. Disc plows (three discs)mounted to 2% that this excessive use of disc plows of various types (three and seven discs) was observed in the study area that 63% of farmers use disc plows without their knowledge of its negative effects on the physical properties of the soil and it is considered an excessive use. Negative impact on the soil, destroying its construction, and contributing to the increase in desertification and thus the decline of arable areas, which threatens local food security. 81% of the participants do not pay any attention to the direction of the winds when plowing and are not aware of this information, and about 30% of the participants plow with the tendency of the land, which increases soil erosion, and 43% of farmers plow their fields without regard to the direction of the land's inclination. The percentage of farmers who were rationalized by using the plow was 51%, while 49% were not advised to the ideal plow type for use. Knowledge about the negative effects of the use of disc plows in agricultural areas is poor and attitude towards the use of disc plows is positive and the practice was common and often inappropriate.