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Sowing
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{{distinguish|Sewing}} {{for|other terms relating to the word 'sow'|sow (disambiguation)}} {{short description|Planting of seeds or other propagules in the ground for germination}} [[File:Simon Bening - September.jpg|thumb|[[Simon Bening]], ''Labors of the Months: September'', from a Flemish [[Book of hours]] ([[Bruges]])]] [[File:Men sowing seed (3465701854).jpg|thumb|Men sowing seed by hand in the 1940s]] [[File:Manual sowing machine.jpg|thumb|Manual sowing machine]] '''Sowing''' is the process of planting seeds. An area that has had seeds planted in it will be described as a '''sowed''' or '''sown''' area. ==Plants which are usually sown== Among the major field crops, [[oat]]s, [[wheat]], and [[rye]] are sown, grasses and legumes are seeded and [[maize]] and [[soybean]]s are planted. In planting, wider rows (generally 75 cm (30 in) or more) are used, and the intent is to have precise; even spacing between individual seeds in the row, various mechanisms have been devised to count out individual seeds at exact intervals. ===Depth of sowing === [[Image:Between corn rows.png|thumb|Regular rows of [[maize|corn]] in a field in Indiana]] In sowing, little if any soil is placed over the seeds, as seeds can be generally sown into the soil by maintaining a planting depth of about 2-3 times the size of the seed. ===Sowing types and patterns=== For hand sowing, several sowing types exist; these include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/4549495|title=Beds or flat-planting for southern wheat crops|first=Farhad|last=Nabin|publisher=academia.edu|access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref> * Flat sowing * Ridge sowing * Wide bed sowing Several patterns for sowing may be used together with these types; these include: * Rows that are indented at the even rows (so that the seeds are placed in a crossed pattern). This method is much better, as more light may fall on the seedlings as they come out. * Symmetrical grid pattern β using the using the [[quincunx]] pattern described in [[The Garden of Cyrus]] ==Types of sowing== ===Hand sowing=== '''Hand sowing''' or (planting) is the process of casting handfuls of seed over prepared ground: broadcasting, that is, [[broadcast seeding]] (from which the [[broadcasting|technological term]] is derived). Usually, a drag or [[harrow (tool)|harrow]] is employed to incorporate the seed into the soil. Though [[Labor intensity|labor-intensive]] for any but small areas, this method is still used in some situations. Practice is required to sow evenly and at the desired rate. A hand seeder can be used for sowing, though it is less of a help than it is for the smaller seeds of [[Poaceae|grasses]] and [[Fabaceae|legumes]]. [[Image:Horticulture Tray3.jpg|thumb|A tray used in [[horticulture]] (for sowing and taking plant cuttings)]] Hand sowing may be combined with pre-sowing in [[seed tray]]s. This allows the plants to come to strength indoors during cold periods (e.g. spring in temperate countries). === Seed drill === In [[agriculture]], most seed is now sown using a [[seed drill]], which offers greater precision; seed is sown evenly and at the desired rate. The drill also places the seed at a measured distance below the soil, so that less seed is required. The standard design uses a fluted feed metering system, which is volumetric in nature; individual seeds are not counted. Rows are typically about 10β30 cm apart, depending on the [[crop]] species and growing conditions. Several row opener types are used depending on [[soil type]] and local tradition. Grain drills are most often drawn by [[tractor]]s, but can also be pulled by [[horse]]s. [[Pickup truck]]s are sometimes used, since little draft is required. A seed rate of about 100 kg of seed per hectare (2 bushels per acre) is typical, though rates vary considerably depending on crop species, soil conditions, and farmer's preference. Excessive rates can cause the crop to lodge, while too thin a rate will result in poor utilisation of the land, competition with [[weed]]s and a reduction in the [[Crop yield|yield]]. ===Open field=== {{Main|Open field system}} '''Open-field planting''' refers to the form of sowing used historically in the agricultural context whereby [[field (agriculture)|fields]] are prepared generically and left open, as the name suggests, before being sown directly with seed. The seed is frequently left uncovered at the surface of the soil before germinating and therefore exposed to the prevailing [[climate]] and conditions like storms etc. This is in contrast to the [[seedbed]] method used more commonly in domestic [[gardening]] or more specific (modern) agricultural scenarios where the seed is applied beneath the soil surface and monitored and manually tended frequently to ensure more successful growth rates and better yields. ===Pre-treatment of seed and soil before sowing=== [[Image:GrowingAvocadoFromSeed.JPG|thumb|Tropical fruit such as [[avocado]] also benefit from special seed treatments (specifically invented for that particular tropical fruit)]] Before sowing, certain seeds first require a treatment prior to the sowing process. This treatment may be seed [[Scarification (botany)|scarification]], [[stratification (botany)|stratification]], [[Imbibition|seed soaking]] or seed cleaning with cold (or medium hot) water. Seed soaking is generally done by placing seeds in medium hot water for at least 24 to up to 48 hours<ref>{{cite web|first=Ernestina|last=Parziale |url=http://earthnotes.tripod.com/seeds.htm |title=Pre-sowing treatments of seed |publisher=Earthnotes.tripod.com |access-date=2014-06-05}}</ref> Seed cleaning is done especially with fruit, as the flesh of the fruit around the seed can quickly become prone to attack from insects or plagues.<ref>[http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprashu.html Sprout safety: how to combat contamination of seed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916114753/http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprashu.html |date=2008-09-16 }}</ref> Seed washing is generally done by submerging cleansed seeds 20 minutes in 50 [[Celsius|degree Celsius]] water.<ref name="ReferenceA">Exotische vruchten kweken by Dr Gabriele Lehari</ref> This (rather hot than moderately hot) water kills any organisms that may have survived on the skin of a seed. Especially with easily infected [[tropical fruit]] such as [[lychee]]s and [[rambutan]]s, seed washing with high-temperature water is vital. In addition to the mentioned seed pretreatments, [[seed germination]] is also assisted when a disease-free soil is used. Especially when trying to germinate difficult seed (e.g. certain tropical fruit), prior treatment of the soil (along with the usage of the most suitable soil; e.g. [[potting soil]], prepared soil or other [[Substrate (biology)|substrate]]s) is vital. The two most used soil treatments are [[pasteurisation]] and [[Sterilization (microbiology)|sterilisation]]. Depending on the necessity, pasteurisation is to be preferred as this does not kill all organisms. Sterilisation can be done when trying to grow truly difficult crops. To pasteurise the soil, the soil is heated for 15 minutes in an oven of 120 Β°C.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> ==See also== {{wiktionary}} *[[Advance sowing]] *[[Plant propagation]] *[[Planter (farm implement)]] *[[Priming (agriculture)]] *[[Seed drill]]; a mechanical aid allowing much better and faster seed dispersal than when done by hand *[[Tree planting]] ==References== {{commons category}} {{reflist}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Horticultural techniques]] [[Category:Horticulture]] [[Category:Agronomy]] [[Category:Habitat management equipment and methods]] [[Category:Plant reproduction]] [[Category:Seeds]] [[Category:Agricultural practices]]
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