LPM 121: Fodder Production and Grassland Management (1+1)

METHODS OF SOWING THE SEEDS

• The methods of sowing seeds include broadcasting, dibbling, drilling, hill dropping, planting, check row planting and transplanting.
• Broadcasting
  • It is the process of scattering of seeds at random on the prepared seed bed. It is usually done with manual labour, seed rates are generally higher in this method. After the seeds are broadcast they are covered by planking.
• Dibbling
  • It is the method of placing the seeds into the holes made on prepared seed bed at predetermined depth and at fixed spacing. The seeds are then covered by physically manipulating the soil. For dibbling, dibber is used in kitchen gardens and vegetable plots. This method is not suitable for small seeds.
• Drilling
  • It consists of dropping seeds along with rows of furrows in a continuous steam and covering them. Seeding behind the country plough is a manual seed drilling process. Mechanical seed drilling machines are called seed drills.
• Hill dropping
  • Seeds are dropped in the furrows as in the case of drilling. But in one hill move than one seed is dropped with fixed spacing between hills.
• Planting
  • Individual seeds are dropped with a fixed seed to seed spacing.
• Check row planting
  • In this method spacing between rows is equal to the spacing between seeds. This facilitates weeding and interculturing operations in both the directions.
• Transplanting
  • Seeds are broadcast in prepared nursery bed. The grown up seedlings are plucked from the nursery field and transplanted in the main field. It is suitable for paddy, vegetables and flower crops. Transplanting requires less seed rate.
  • Seedlings can be selected before transplanting and hence uniform crop stand can be obtained. Weeds are buried at the time of puddling. Plant protection measures can be effectively done in the nursery field.