Planting crops may look simple at first glance, but various processes and methods are involved for the crops to grow properly. Numerous methods have been developed over the years when it comes to planting crops, and most farmers prefer one method over the others simply because they have become used to it or it is the most effective to use in the location and environment of their farms.
In today’s era, where farmers in different parts of the world face the challenge of meeting the demands of the growing population, innovation is needed for seeding and planting equipment so that farmers can use them to grow more crops while also making sure that the finished products are made with quality and care.
In this article, we will explore and discuss the diverse planting methods commonly used today and explain how they are effective in growing crops properly. Here is a list of planting methods used on farms today.
Broadcast Seeding
Broadcast seeding is a method of planting crops that involves scattering seeds using a machine or by hand over a large area of fertile soil. Using this planting method doesn’t require a farmer to plant seeds in a precise manner with space and depth, so it is easier, faster, and simpler to use instead of other planting methods. However, broadcast seeing is not effective for plants that require spacing, and using this method for those kinds of plants may result in overcrowding, which would then prevent the plants from getting nutrients from the soil, water, and sunlight properly.
Dibbling
Dibbling is an old planting method wherein seeds are placed inside holes that are made in the seedbed. Then, after placing the seeds, the holes would then be closed with soil. Unlike broadcast seeding, dibbling is a much more precise method since farmers can calculate the spacing between each hole, which would then prevent overcrowding. In order to create holes faster and with better efficiency, farmers would use a tool called a dibbler, which has a spike at one end to create even holes in the soil.
Seed Drilling
Seed drilling uses a device called a seed drill, which would then drill the seeds into the soil and bury them at a specific depth. A seed drill is made up of various spikes that rotate like a wheel, and these spikes are responsible for drilling the seed into the ground. Then, the drill is shaped like a wheel so that farmers can easily move it on the soil. Seed drilling is a fast method of planting seeds at an ample seeding rate and depth.
Transplanting
Transplanting, also known as replanting, differs from the previously mentioned planting methods as this one doesn’t revolve around using seeds and seeing tools or devices. Instead, transplanting is focused on moving grown plants from one location to another.
In order to transplant or replant a plant properly, farmers would use an agricultural machine called a transplanter, which works similarly to a seed drill in the sense that it has wheels to move on the soil. However, instead of drilling or burying seeds, a transplanter pulls out seedlings or plants from the ground so that they can be planted in another location. Farmers use transplanting to extend the growing season of the plants by moving them indoors so that their environment can be controlled.
Hill Dropping
Hill dropping is a method where seeds are dropped with fixed spacing so that they can grow with a few inches of empty space between them. In seed drilling, the seeds are drilled into the soil in a continuous flow with little to no spacing between each seed. On the other hand, hill dropping makes sure that there is spacing between the seeds so that they can grow better since they aren’t struggling to get nutrients from the soil because of how close their roots are to each other.
Check Row Planting
Check row planting is an old method of planting corn on contoured hills that aren’t straight or flat. True to its name, check row planting makes the field of corn have the appearance of a checkerboard due to how check wires or cables create square shapes on the field. These wires or cables are used to separate each group of seeds that are planted in the soil. This method of planting has decreased in popularity because other methods are easier and simpler to follow.
Precision Seeding
Precision seeding is a modern planting method that is developed to enable farmers to plant seeds with precise spacing and depth. In order to achieve an almost uniform seeding method, farmers would use precision seeders, machines capable of efficiently and quickly planting seeds with spaces between them. What’s great about precision seeders is that farmers can adjust the depth and space the machines follow when planting seeds.
Hydroseeding
Hydroseeding is a planting process wherein seeds and mulch (a material applied to the surface of the soil to increase moisture and improve the fertility and health of the soil) are mixed in a slurry. In this mixture, solids (in this case, the seeds and the mulch) are suspended in liquid or water. The slurry is then stored inside a tank that is attached to a machine or device that sprays the slurry on the soil. Hydroseeding is a fast-planting method that is often used not only for planting crops but to also plant trees in burned areas after a wildfire.
Conclusion
These planting methods are commonly used in farms around the world. However, as evident in the details we provided above, some planting methods are more effective and convenient compared to others. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if these simpler and more modern methods would become more common as farms begin to discover how easy they are to follow. With innovations and technological advancements helping create easier and simpler methods for planting, farms would be able to produce more crops with less effort