Introduction to major field crops (1+1)

Method of Sowing

There are two methods of crop stand establishment under irrigated situation. They are direct seeding on puddled soil and transplanting.
1. Direct Seeding on Puddled Soil: In this system the land is well puddled and sprouted seeds are either broadcasted or dibbled.Drum seeder can also be used for sowing. Direct seeding saves labour as it does not involve nursery raising, uprooting and transplanting of seedlings.

Fig: sowing by using drum seeder.

Transplanting System: It is more common in irrigated condition in India. Here nurseries are raised well in advance to produce the seedlings. Later transplanting is done using the seedlings. It is highly labour intensive system. But it has got the advantage of less weed problems.

For raising nursery, fertile well drained field is selected near source of water. To raise seedlings for one hectare 750 m2 area is required. After adequate land preparation 1,000 to 1,500 kg of well decomposed farm yard manure has to be incorporated 2-3 weeks before sowing. Prepare raised beds of 7.5 m length, 2.0 m width and 10 cm height. For one hectare area nearly about 50 beds are required. For each bed, 90 g N + 45 g P2O5 + 45 g K2O/bed should be applied.

There are three types of nurseries are followed for raising the seedlings for transplanting. Those are drybed nursery, wet bed nursery and dapog method of nursery.
a) Dry Bed Nursery: It is followed inareas where the water is insufficient. In this method, dry tillage is followed. Sowing of pre-germinated seeds may be done by broadcasting or sown in hand drawn shallow furrows spaced at 8-10 cm and covering with soil. Irrigation is done frequently to keep the beds moist.Dry nurseries are well suited for wet season and the seedlings obtained from these nurseries are hardy and can tolerate adverse conditions better. But weeds problem is more than wet bed method.
b) Wet Bed Nursery:In wet bed nursery,wet tillage is practiced and pre-germinated seeds are broadcasted uniformly on raised beds of puddled soil.

The seedlings are ready in 20-25 days. The seedlings produced from the well managed nurseries are expected to give better yields. Line planting ensures proper crop stand and facilitates working of rotary weeder for controlling weeds as well as incorporation of N fertilizers. Shallow planting of 3-4 cm deep with a spacing of 20x10-15 cm @ 2-3 seedlings per hill is desirable. If need arises, gap filling has to be done.

Fig: Application of compost.

Fig: Sprouted seeds.

Fig: Broadcasting of seeds.

Fig: Covering of seeds with soil.


Fig: Wet bed nursery.


Fig: Transplanting of seedlings.

Dapog Method of Nursery:

Dapog method of nursery is used for machine transplanting. In this method, the raised beds of one meter width, 10 cm height and convenient length are prepared. On these beds a polythene sheet is placed and above which a mixture of FYM and soil (1:1) of 2.0 cm thickness is placed. Pre-germinated seeds are broadcasted @ 1.0 kg/m2 and covered with straw mulch. Irrigation is done frequently to keep the beds moist. Seedlings are ready for transplanting in 18-20 days. For machine transplanting mats of seedlings are used.

Fig: Bed preparation.

Fig: Covering of polythene sheet.

Fig: Spreading of soil.

Fig: Sprouted seeds ready for sowing

Fig: Covering of straw mulch.

Fig: Nursery ready for transplanting.

Nursery rising by using trays

Fig: Filling of trays with soil & F.Y.M.

Fig: Seedlings in nursery trays.

Fig: Seedlings ready for transplanting

Fig: Rolling of seedlings mat.

Fig: Eight rows transplanter.

Fig: Four rows transplanter.

Fig: Loading of seedlings.

Fig: Machine transplanting.

Fig: Machine transplanting.

Fig: Machine transplanted field.