Content Writer-SME
The role of the agriculture sector in shaping India's economy and contributing to the GDP is noteworthy. Therefore, quality crop production for the welfare of the nation becomes the main objective of the farmers and the government. To obtain good quality food, the seeds must be sown properly either manually or with the implementation of various effective technologies available today.
Seeds are planted in the soil through the process of sowing. The crucial step in sowing seeds involves selecting high-quality seeds. This is done just after ploughing. Crops, like rice, are seeded and subsequently grown in another location before they are planted in the planting beds. Various methods and their precautions of sowing are discussed below in detail.
What is Sowing?
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The process of burying seeds deep inside the soil is called sowing. This is the initial stage in the development of a complete plant. Proper precautions such as sowing seeds at proper depths, and use of correct tools must be taken for sowing seeds. The first stage of sowing involves selection of disease free seeds. The soil is then loosened with the help of ploughs in preparation for sowing.
Various sowing methods are used to obtain the best quality food products. Sowing is done manually with the help of machines like seed drills. Traditional sowing of seeds including broadcast and funnel sowing was done mainly by hand.
Different Methods of Sowing
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Depending on the type of seeds to be sown and the vegetables produced, there are different types of sowing. Important traditional methods of sowing are as follows:
Broadcasting
Seeds are dispersed either manually or automatically, across the seed beds in this procedure. When seeds are sown using the broadcasting method, they are uniformly distributed.
Drilling
It is another method of sowing in which a seed drill is used. A seed drill is a tool used for sowing seeds that plants them at a uniform depth and distance from neighboring ones. This keeps the seeds encased in the soil and safe from birds.
Dibbling
The process of dibbling involves making holes in the seabed into which seeds are sprinkled. After placing the seeds the holes are covered. This method of sowing is used to grow vegetables in hilly areas. This is an old-fashioned technique through which cotton seeds were sown around the 17th century.
Transplanting
In this procedure, the seedlings are sown in the fields after first being cultivated in greenhouses or nurseries. Usually, it's carried out for growing disease-free flowers and vegetables.
Sowing behind the Country Plough
This is a very unique method of sowing which is mainly used in rural areas for crop production. Seeds varieties such as wheat, rice, gram, and maize are sown through this method in villages. This is done either manually or by drilling.
- Mannual Sowing: Manually, this method uses a tool called a mallobansa. This method involves two persons where one person sprinkles the seeds in the furrow while the other person holds the bullocks and plough.
- Mechanical Sowing: The mechanical sowing behind the country plough involves the use of a seed drill called Gorus.
Precautions for Sowing Seeds
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Precautions must be taken while selecting and sowing seeds into the soil. Here we have listed a few below-
- Seeds should be free from any contaminants.
- Sowing at proper depths is another factor that must be taken into mind while planting seeds.
- Use of quality and disease-free seeds are important for sowing.
- For indoor sowing, label the tray with date and name of seeds.
- For outdoor sowing of seeds, hoe and canes can be used for making drills and holes in the soil.
- They should receive the same amount of sunlight, vital nutrients, and water.
Things to Remember
- The process of planting disease-free and high-yielding seeds into the soil is called sowing.
- For sowing, seeds are first selected based on their appearance and productivity.
- There are different traditional as well as modern methods of planting seeds into the soil.
- Seeds are first germinated under favorable conditions and further grow into a complete plant.
- The important methods of sowing include broadcasting, drilling, and transplanting.
Sample Questions
Ques. Which tool is utilized for sowing seeds? (2 marks)
Ans. Earlier, a funnel-shaped tool was used to sow seeds but nowadays seed drill is the most commonly used method of sowing.
Ques. Is the broadcasting method preferred for sowing seeds? (2 marks)
Ans. No, the broadcasting method is not an efficient method of sowing. Seed broadcasting is done by hand. Therefore, uniform distribution of seeds is not assured by this method.
Ques. What are the criteria for selection of seeds for sowing? (2 marks)
Ans. Three important criteria are considered while selecting seeds for sowing:
- Contaminant-free seeds
- Age of seeds
- Size of seeds
Ques. What is the purpose of sowing seeds? (2 marks)
Ans. It is the most essential part of farming. Without seeds, plants cannot grow. The nature of crops depends on the sort of seeds that are sown.
Ques. What are the safety measures taken for sowing seeds? (2 marks)
Ans. Proper measures should be followed during sowing such as:
- Maintaining the correct spacing, depth, and
- Make sure the soil is clean, healthy, and free of fungi, and disease.
Ques. What should be done before seeding? (2 marks)
Ans. The first step in planting is to select high-quality, healthy, and pure seeds. Pretreatment is required for some seeds before sowing. The procedures for treatment include scarification, stratification, soaking, and cleansing of the seeds in cold or medium-hot water.
Ques. What is the basic difference between sowing and seeding? (2 marks)
Ans. sowing refers to actually planting the seeds into the soil while seeding is dispersing or scattering the seeds. Shallow planting of seeds is preferable to planting them too deeply. Certain seeds, like lettuce or scallion, require proper sunlight for germination.
Ques. What is the germination of seeds? (2 marks)
Ans. The sprouting of seeds marks the beginning of germination. This is primarily influenced by humidity, temperature, water availability, and seed depth. The two primary categories of germination processes are Hypogeal Germination & Epigeal Germination.
Ques. What is seeding and growing? (2 marks)
Ans. The act of putting seeds into the ground is called seeding. Following seeding, the seeds sprout inside the ground and eventually mature into a complete plant.
Ques. What distinguishes sowing from harvesting? (2 marks)
Ans. The method of planting is the sowing of seeds. When seeds are planted and are prepared to be taken off, this event is known as harvesting.
Ques. When kharif crops are sown? (2 marks)
Ans. Kharif crops are planted in June, when the monsoon season officially begins, and harvested in September and October when it comes to the end. Examples of kharif crops include maize, rice, cotton, etc.
Ques. In what way is soil prepared for sowing? (2 marks)
Ans. The primary stages of soil preparation in agriculture are plowing, leveling, and manuring. Earth needs to be dug up and loosened during plowing. By loosening the soil, the aeration of the soil is improved, allowing roots to more easily penetrate the soil's surface.
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