Performance analysis of the "BOUDOUR" direct seed drill in comparison with three tillage systems and their impact on lentil cultivation under Semi-Arid conditions

Conservation agriculture has made impressive advances in Algeria over the last years. However, the development of conservation tillage remains far below expectations. This is due to several reasons, including the limited availability of direct seed drills, the availability of powerful tractors to pull these direct seed drills, and the cost of direct seed drills. 2016 In 2016, the agricultural machinery manufacturing complex of Sidi Bel Abbès (located in the west of Algeria) developed a new model of direct seed drills named "BOUDOUR", which addresses the objectives of farmers, including tractor power requirements, affordability, and good work quality. This study aims to evaluate the impact of conservation agriculture using two different direct seed drills, namely "BOUDOUR" and "John Shearer," on soil physical properties (bulk density, gravimetric water content, soil penetrometer resistance) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) yield, compared to conventional tillage and minimum tillage. The field experiment was conducted at the Technical Institute of Cereals in Setif, located in a semi-arid region of Algeria. Tillage systems significantly (P < 0.05) influenced soil water content and bulk density. Soil moisture in lentils peaked at 45% during flowering and decreased to 3% at the pod stage, influenced by climate and plant requirements. Although untilled soil generally retains more moisture due to changes in pore space and surface residue, the impact of direct seeding on water infiltration rates lacks consensus. Soil porosity was highest in the top 15 cm across all tillage systems, averaging around 60%, typical for agricultural soils, and decreased with depth. Soil penetration resistance was not significantly affected by tillage technique, with slightly higher values observed in minimum tillage and direct seeding systems (1.07 MPa and 1.04 MPa, respectively) compared to conventional tillage (0.93 MPa). Lentil yields were 97 g/m² in CT, 89 g/m² with John Shearer, 82 g/m² in MT, and 76 g/m² with BOUDOUR.