Sowing Techniques

Crop Planting & Soil Preparation

Sowing is not just dropping seeds in the soil. it's about placing them at the right depth, right spacing, and in the right way so that every seed has a fair chance to grow into a healthy plant.

🌱 1. Methods of Sowing

a) Broadcasting

Seeds are scattered by hand across the field.

  • Common for cereals like wheat, mustard, millets.
  • Simple and quick, but uneven distribution.

👉 For small home gardens, broadcasting works for spinach, methi, coriander.

b) Line Sowing (Row Planting)

Seeds are placed in straight rows using a stick, seed drill, or by hand.

  • Ensures proper spacing, easy weeding, and irrigation.
  • Used for pulses, vegetables, and cereals.

👉 Example: Carrots, radish, beans.

c) Dibbling

Seeds are placed one by one in small holes at fixed distances.

  • Very common for large seeds (maize, beans, cucumbers).
  • Ensures exact spacing, reduces wastage.

d) Transplanting

Seeds are first grown in nursery beds or trays, then young saplings are moved to the main field.

  • Protects delicate plants in early stages.
  • Common for paddy, tomato, brinjal, chili, cabbage.

👉 Example: Tomato seeds grown in small trays, transplanted after 3–4 weeks.

🌍 2. Depth of Sowing

Proper depth ensures good germination:

  • Small seeds (spinach, coriander, onion): Very shallow (0.5–1 cm), just cover lightly with soil.
  • Medium seeds (beans, carrot, radish): About 2–3 cm deep.
  • Large seeds (maize, groundnut, pumpkin): 4–6 cm deep.

👉 Rule:

Seed should be covered enough to avoid birds, but shallow enough to get air and sprout easily.

🌾 3. Spacing Between Seeds

Spacing avoids overcrowding. If seeds are too close, plants fight for nutrients and sunlight.

  • Leafy vegetables (spinach, coriander): 2–3 inches apart.
  • Root crops (carrot, radish, beetroot): 4–6 inches apart.
  • Fruit vegetables (tomato, brinjal, chili): 1–1.5 feet apart.
  • Creepers (pumpkin, bottle gourd, cucumber): 2–3 feet apart.

💡 Tips for Good Sowing

Follow these for best results:

  • Always sow in moist soil, not dry.
  • Cover with a thin layer of soil or straw to protect from birds.
  • After sowing, give light watering — Don't flood.
  • Mark rows with sticks so you can weed and irrigate easily later.

🧑‍🌾 Why Proper Sowing Matters

Here's why good sowing technique is crucial:

  • Increases germination rate.
  • Reduces wastage of seeds.
  • Makes crop care (weeding, watering, harvesting) easier.
  • Ensures uniform growth and higher yield.

✍️ Practical Exercise for You

Try this simple activity:

  • Take a small patch or raised bed.
  • Sow spinach seeds by broadcasting on one half.
  • Sow the same seeds in neat rows on the other half.
  • Observe after 10–12 days — you'll see row planting gives more uniform growth.