Pedaver has developed machinery for mechanically forming raised beds and furrows and for mechanised direct planting through heavy mulch with precise plant spacing. Transplanting of young single seedlings in permanent no-till raised beds with precise spacing is also possible thanks to Pedaver’s innovations. Recent machinery even allows for forming the raised permanent beds while direct seeding in one single passage of the tractor. These innovative machines allow the upscale of PQNK systems and the implementation of this system on large-scale farms. The field design with permanent raised beds and furrows for irrigation complies with the utilisation of tractors whose wheels pass on the furrows without disturbing and compacting the cultivated land. In this way, furrows get compacted, resulting in reduced water percolation during irrigation and increased water infiltration in the cultivated beds, ultimately enhancing water-use efficiency. Appropriate mechanisation highly reduces the drudgeries of farm works and facilitates the timely implementation of agricultural activities. Pedaver’s innovations focus mainly on the two most labour-intensive activities in the PQNK system: forming the no-till raised beds (a one-time operation) and (trans)planting of crops. In fact, other operations, such as tilling the field and weeding, and spraying of agrochemicals are not needed under the PQNK approach because of the presence of permanent no-till raised beds and heavy mulch.
