Different kinds of planting methods have been created over the years, and each of these methods has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. If no planting methods are used or followed, farms won’t be able to create high-quality crops that can be sold easily on the market. So, there should be at least one planting method or process that should be followed in order for farms to produce good crops throughout the year.
While there are advantages to using various planting methods and farming equipment, there can also be disadvantages them that will become apparent as farmers continue to use them for many seasons or years. This article will discuss the disadvantages of different planting methods and how they can be fixed. Here is a guide to overcoming the disadvantages of planting methods.
Disadvantages of Different Planting Methods
Various planting methods are beneficial for farms in enabling proper cultivation and growth of crops and different kinds of plants. However, when you compare these methods with one another, you will see that some of their aspects or processes can become disadvantageous. Take a look below for the list of common planting methods and their disadvantages.
Broadcast Seeding
Broadcast seeding is a method of plating wherein seeds are scattered in a large area with fertile soil. For this planting method, the spacing and depth of the planted seed are not calculated, so the seeds are just scattered in different areas or spaces of the field. Here are some of the disadvantages of using broadcast seeding:
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Because the seeds are scattered on the field, they would grow anywhere, with two or more spots becoming clumped with many seedlings or plants.
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There is a possibility that some seeds won’t grow properly since other seeds and plants steal nutrients in the soil from them if they are too close to one another.
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In broadcast seeding, seeds are just lightly scattered on the surface of the fertile soil, which would then result in poor soil-to-seed contact.
Dibbling
Dibbling is a simple planting method that involves the use of a small tool called a dibbler, which has a spike at one end that is used to create holes in the fertile soil. Once the holes are created using the dibbler, the seeds would then be placed inside the holes and buried with soil. Check out the disadvantages of dibbling below:
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The holes needed for dibbling would have to be created by hand, which makes this planting method labor-intensive.
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Because the holes would need to be created one by one using the dibbler, this method can also be time-consuming.
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You may need the help of more than two people if you want to plant plenty of seeds using this method.
Seed Drilling
Seed drilling is a method that is accomplished using a device called a seed drill, which usually looks like a relatively large cylindrical contraption that has open sides with spikes that rotate as you push the device forward. While a dibbler would create individual holes, a seed drill would pierce numerous sections of the soil while it is pushed forward. After piercing the soil, the seed drill would automatically bury the seed in the soil. Here are the disadvantages of using a seed drill.
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The farmers would need to have skills and knowledge when it comes to using a speed drill, as there are many steps or processes involved in utilizing its drilling and sowing features.
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Using a seed drill would still be time-consuming, especially when you compare it to broadcast seeding.
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Modern seed drills can be quite expensive on the market, although they are not as expensive as other machines and devices used for other planting methods.
Transplanting
Transplanting is different from the other methods mentioned above because it doesn’t involve seed. Instead, transplanting is done on seedlings and plants. In this method, seedlings or plants are transferred or replanted from one location to another. Usually, the plants are transplanted from an outdoor setting to an indoor greenhouse where their environment is much more controlled. Take a look below for the disadvantages of transplanting for farms:
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Transplanting can be costly, as you would need an indoor facility to keep the seedlings and plants growing during their off-season.
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The machine used for transplanting the seedlings, which is called a transplanter, can be quite expensive, too.
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Transplanting frequently can sometimes be harmful to plants, as some of them may not be able to grow well if they are moved to another location.
Hydroseeding
Hydroseeding is a process wherein seeds and mulch, a layer of materials used to improve the soil's fertility and health, are mixed together with a slurry. A slurry is a mixture that is composed of denser solids (the seeds and mulch) that are suspended in a liquid. Hydroseeding works almost the same way as broadcast seeding, as it also scatters the seeds on the soil. However, instead of simply scattering the seed, hydroseeding would require the use of a spraying machine that sprays the seeds and mulch in a slurry. Check out the disadvantages of hydroseeding below:
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Hydroseeding is an expensive planting method due to the pieces of equipment needed in order to use it for farms.
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Hydroseeding may not be cost-effective in smaller farms, where other planting methods would be less expensive to use in the long run.
Ways to Overcome the Disadvantages of Planting Methods
Fortunately, there are ways to overcome the disadvantages of the planting methods we have mentioned above. Here are some details on how to fix the issues with various planting methods.
Make a Transition to Modern Farming
For the farm to adapt to modern planting methods easily, you may need to transition to modern farming, which includes techniques and processes that make different aspects of farming easier for you and those working on your farm.
No-Till Farming
One modern technique you can apply to your farm is no-till farming, which focuses on planting seeds and growing crops without disturbing the soil through tilling. In case you don’t know, tilling is a farming preparation style that involves the use of machines to dig, stir, and overturn soil. While tilling may be beneficial for some farms, as it allows the soil to have a good seedbed for crops, it can sometimes destroy the soil and make it less fertile.
With no-till farming, the soil would be much healthier, which would then allow you to use planting methods that plant seeds at a faster pace but shallower depth, like broadcast seeding, hydroseeding, and seed drilling. While the depth of the seeds is shallower, the soil would have enough moisture and nutrients to make the seed grow healthily.
Raised-Bed Gardening
Raised-bed gardening is another modern farming technique that you can use for your farm, although it is much more suitable for smaller farms because of how much time and effort it would need to follow this technique.
Raised-bed gardening is composed of plants placed on soil, and then placed inside an enclosure, like open boxes or trays made of wood, rock, or concrete. If the farm is large, you would need multiple enclosures to accommodate a lot of plants or crops. The trays are then raised at a certain level, which explains the technique's name. With raised-bed gardening, farmers would usually have better control of the soil and everything that they need to monitor when it comes to growing crops.
Companion Planting
Companion planting is a technique wherein farmers grow two different plants near each other, and these plants often protect each other from pests and diseases because of their inherent properties. For example, carrots would be planted next to onions, with the smell of onions acting as a repellent to prevent carrot root flies from consuming the carrots, while the smell of carrots can put off onion flies. Companion planting ensures that crops stay healthy before they get picked and sold in the market.
Use Innovative Solutions for Seed Placement
Besides modern techniques, your farm should use innovative solutions that will make seed placement much easier for you and the farmer working for your business. You can check out the two innovative solutions for seed placement below.
Precision Planting
Precision planting, also known as precision seeding, is a seeding method wherein seeds are placed at a precise spacing and depth. By having extra space between each seed, it guarantees that the plants would grow better without stealing nutrients in the soil from other plants, and by having adequate depth, the roots of the plants would have better efficiency when it comes to absorbing nutrients from the soil.
In order to do precision seeding, farmers would need precision seeders that are either pushed by hand like a seed drill or powered by electricity or batteries. These precision seeders would then automatically plant seeds with a set spacing and depth. If you want to use the seed drilling method but want to have precise spacing and depth for your seed, you can use precision seeders instead of the standard seed drill.
Seed Tapes
Seed tapes are innovative but very simple items that are utilized by farmers to know if they have given the seeds enough spacing. In addition to acting as a measuring tape for the seeds, the seed tapes also have holographic imprints that are effective in scaring away birds and preventing them from eating the plants that you have been growing on your farm. If you are thinking about the biodegradability of the seed tapes, almost all of them are biodegradable and wouldn’t damage your soil or crops.
Conclusion
Planting methods have different advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to you and the capabilities of your farm to see which specific methods have pros that outweigh their cons. Researching more about the different planting methods would be the best idea for you to determine the ones that are the best and most suitable for your farm. We hope this simple guide has helped you better understand the cons of various planting methods and how they can be fixed using simple and innovative solutions.