Sowing and methods

1. SOWING
Sowing is placement of seed in the seed bed at an appropriate
depth where the soil environment is ideal for optimum
germination and crop stand establishment. The turn planting
is usually referred to placement of seedlings, cuttings, tubers,
rhizomes, slips etc. in the seed bed for crop establishment.
When nurseries are raised in separate nursery beds and
planted in the main field, the term transplanting is used.
Time of sowing: Optimum time of sowing for each crop has
been well established, through many dates of sowing
experiments for each of the agro-climatic zones in the country.
Optimum time of sowing also varies with rainfall. Different
cultivars of the same crop may respond to sowing dates
differently.

2. SEEDRATE
The seed rate for a particular crop determines the final plant
population density. Seed rate recommended for a crop should
be taken into consideration, the germination percentage and its
establishment potential. Seed rate can be calculated by a
simple formula:
Seed rate = 100 x T x 100
P x R PP x g
where T= test weight in (g)
P= plant spacing
R= Row Spacing
PP= Purity %
g= germination%

3. or, P x T
PP x g
where P= no of plants m-2
T= Test weight
PP = Purity %
g= germination%
METHOD OF SOWING
Seeds are sown either directly in the main field or in a nursery
bed where seedlings are raised and transplanted in the main
field at appropriate age of seedling.
1. Broadcasting
2. Dibbling
3. Drilling

4. Broadcasting:
It is seeding of seed or operating of seed on the soil by hand.
Relatively higher seed rate is required in this method. It is the
cheapest method and followed in areas under un-irrigated
conditions.
Dibbling:
In this method the seeds or propagations are placed in a
furrows, pit or hole at pre- determined spacing with a dibbler,
planter or more commonly by hand. This method is suitable
for crops requiring specific geometric area for canopy
development and cultural operations. The seed rate is
comparatively less and the crop stand establishment is uniform
and adequate.

5. Drilling:
Direct drilling of seeds is the usual method of seeding in dryland
agriculture. Seed drills or ferti-drills are used for sowing.in
dryland farming, drilling offers many advantages.
Transplanting:
It is the removal of an actively growing seedling from one place
(usually nursery bed) and planting it in the main field for further
growth till harvest.
Transplanting offers several advantages. Compact area of nursery
bed management is easier compared to that of crop in the main
field, adequate time for main field preparation, desired crop
stands establishment can be obtained

6. Seed required/ha = P x T x (100-G)
P x g x R
Where P= no of plants/m2
T= test weight
G= percent gap filling
P= Percent purity
g= germination%
R=recovery of seedling from nursery bed.
DEPTH OF SOWING
• Depth varies from soil surface up to 10 cm below
• Depth varies with seed size, soil texture, soil moisture and
season.

7. PLANT DENSITY
The number of harvestable plants per unit area depends on
plant character and duration, time, method of rowing, fertility
status of the soil.
FIELD CONDITION FOR SOWING
• Seeds may be sown when the soil is dry like jute, sesame etc.
• When the soil has optimum moisture.
• When the seeding zone is in wet conditions. Pre germinated
seeds or pre sprouted seeds like Berseem, sugarcane, black
gram etc.