Methods of Sowing and Transplanting

Methods of Sowing and Transplanting

There are various Methods of Sowing and Transplanting in field crops. In this article we have listed following types of Methods of Sowing :

  1. Broadcasting
  2. Dibbling
  3. Sowing behind the country plough (manual and mechanical drilling)
  4. Seed Drilling
  5. Nursery Transplanting

Methods of Sowing in Agriculture

1) Broadcasting

Literally means scattering the seeds. Broadcasting is done for many crops. Broadcasting is mostly followed for small-sized to medium-sized crops. This is the largest method of sowing followed in India since it is the easiest and cheapest and requires minimum labor. To have optimum plant population in unit area certain rules should be followed.

  • Only a skilled person should broadcast the seeds for uniform scattering.
  • The ploughed field should be in a perfect condition to trigger germination.


The seeds are broadcasted in a narrow strip, and the sowing is completed strip by strip. To ensure a good and uniform population, it is better to broadcast in either direction. This is called criss-cross sowing. If the seed is too small, it is mixed with sand to make it bulky and easier to handle. In certain cases, the person sowing will beat the seeds against the basket for uniform scattering. After broadcasting, the seeds are covered gently using a country plough with very shallow ploughing, or wooden planks (boards/levelers) are used to cover the surface. In some cases, tree twigs or shrub branches are used. If the seeds are large, levelers collect the seeds and leave them on the other side. A comb harrow is often used.

Disadvantages of Broadcasting

  1. All the seeds broadcasted do not have contact with the soil. 100% germination is not possible.
  2. Enhanced seed rate is required.
  3. Seeds cannot be placed at the desired depth. Desired depth ensures perfect anchorage, and lodging (falling down) is common in broadcasting.

2) Dibbling Method

Line sowing: Inserting a seed through a hole at a desired depth and covering the hole. Dibbling on a plain surface, ridges and furrows, or beds and channels. This type of sowing is practiced only under suitable soil conditions. Rice–fallow–cotton is dibbled on a plain surface. The seeds are dibbled at 2/3rds from the top or 1/3rd at the bottom. Before sowing, furrows are opened, and fertilizers are applied, with seeds sown above them to avoid contact. This is done for wider spaced crops and medium to large-sized seeds, e.g., sorghum, maize, sunflower, and cotton.

Advantages of Ridges and Furrows

(i) Uniform population
(ii) Better germination
(iii) Reduced seed rate

3) Sowing behind the Plough

Sowing behind the plough (line sowing) is done manually or mechanically. Seeds are dropped in furrows opened by the plough and are closed or covered when the next furrow is opened. The seeds are sown at a uniform distance. The manual method is laborious and time-consuming. Seeds like redgram, cowpea, and groundnut are sown behind the country plough. The major crop sown this way is groundnut. Seeds are also sown mechanically using ‘Gorus’—a seed drill with a plough share and hopper.

Advantages of Sowing behind the Plough

i) The seeds are placed at the desired depth and covered by iron planks.

ii) Most seeds except very small and very large ones can be sown, e.g., maize, sorghum, millets, sunflower, etc.

4) Drill Sowing (or) Drilling

Drilling is the practice of dropping seeds at a defined depth, covering with soil, and compacting. In this method, sowing implements place the seeds into the soil. Both animal-drawn gorrus and power-operated seed drills are available. Seeds are drilled continuously or at regular intervals in rows, with a maintained depth of sowing. Fertilizer application can also be simultaneous.

5) Nursery Transplanting

In nursery, young seedlings are protected more effectively over a short period in a smaller area.

Advantages of Nursery

i) Ensures optimum plant population
ii) Management in the main field is reduced
iii) Crop intensification is possible under transplanting

Disadvantages of Nursery

i) Nursery raising is expensive
ii) Transplanting is labor-intensive