Direct Seeding and Planting Methods

Direct Seeding/Planting

• Involves planting seeds or plant materials directly into the field
• Suited for seeds with easy germination and affordability
• Works well for seeds that germinate rapidly and seeds that are inexpensive

Direct Seeding Applicability

• Seeds that germinate easily, like inexpensive seeds
• Species sensitive to root disturbance (e.g., corn, beans)
• Big-seeded crops (e.g., okra, beans, patola, corn)
• Stem cuttings (e.g., siniguelas, cassava, sugarcane, sweet potato)
• Other propagules like suckers, crowns, or tubers

Forms of Direct Seeding

• Broadcasting involves uniformly spreading seeds across the field
• Broadcasting is effective for rice, pechay, radish, and leguminous cover crops
• Broadcasting requires thorough land preparation to prevent weed issues
• Hill method involves sowing seeds at specific distances between hills and rows
• The hill method is appropriate for crops like corn and pineapple
• Hill method allows for easier weed control
• Drill method involves sowing seeds in rows at specified distances, it is a fit for small-seeded crops like mung bean
• Drill method can be done either manually or mechanically
• Weed control is easier in hill and drill methods than in broadcasting due to straight rows allowing rotary weeder or cultivator use
• Dibble method refers to placing seeds in holes without prior plowing, harrowing, or furrowing, ideal for hilly areas
• The dibble method is well-suited for crops like corn, rice, sitaw, and okra
• With the dibble method holes, with no set spacing, must be large enough to accommodate the seeds

Transplanting Method

• Involves raising seedlings in a nursery before moving them to the field or greenhouses
• Transplanting is applicable for seeds hard to germinate and expensive seeds such as F1 hybrids
• Also applicable for small-seeded plants that give rise to small seedlings, rooted cuttings and grafted plants
• The transplanting method protects seedlings from harsh weather thus, higher survival rates

Benefits of Transplanting

• Improves control over plant spacing and population density, optimizing growth conditions and resource use
• Reduces competition among seedlings, resulting in healthier plants and potentially higher yields

General Methods of Planting

• Direct-seeding
• Transplanting

Population Density in Planting

• Population density is the number of plants per unit area, for example, 10,000 plants per hectare
• Population density is important for planning and allocating resources in crop production
• Maximizing yield necessitates optimal population density

Benefits of Optimum Population Density

• Facilitates early development of a sufficient leaf area index for best use of solar energy
• Enhances early weed control
• Boosts efficiency in land, light, and water use

Planting Density Influences

• Crop species and varieties have different density needs based on growth habits and sizes
  • Grain crops vs trees
  • Corn vs rice
  • Mango vs coffee
  • Tall vs short verities
  • Erect vs spreading growth habit
• Optimum population density varies with plant height, canopy shape and size, growth habit, and horizontal spread of root system
• Fertile soils may require lower densities, and poorer soils may need higher densities to maximize yield
• Seasonal variations in weather, like rainfall and sunlight, affect optimal planting densities
• Method of propagation Seed vs grafted/cuttings
  • Higher density for grafted plants, especially with dwarfing rootstocks
• Mechanization: Row spacing to suit machine size
• Cropping system
  • Monocropping adopts usual density
  • Polycropping adjusts density for all crops

Population Density (PD) Calculation Methods

• Hill method: population density calculation
  • PD = (Area (m²) × number of plants per hill) / (S1 x S2)
• Drill method: population density calculation
  • PD = (Area (m²) × number of plants per linear meter) / (Distance between rows)

Planting Methods for Perennial Crops

• Square system - plants are placed equidistant at square's corners
  • No. of plants = Area / s²
• Rectangular system - trees placed at rectangle's corners
  • PD = Area (m²) / (s1 × s2)
• Triangular/Hexagonal system - plants at equilateral triangle's corners
  • Permits 15% higher PD versus square
  • PD = Area (m²) / (s² x 0.866) = Area / s² x 1.15
• Quincunx/Diagonal system - modified square
  • Additional plant at square's center
  • PD = Area (m²) / s² + [(-1)(-1)] / (L/s W/s)

Contour System

• Plants are placed following the contour line on hilly or sloped land
• Planting distance changes between contour lines, it remains constant within a line

Planting Operations

• Optimal timing during moist, rainy season
• Anytime if irrigation available
• When it is cloudy, in case the seeds are transplanted
• Transplanting perennials with holes as deep and wide as possible
  • Care when removing container to avoid disturbing roots
  • Tie seedlings if weak stem

Ratooning as Planting Strategy

• Ratooning is using biennials (sugarcane, pineapple) to create suckers as next crop
• Ratooning saves land preparation, planting costs, and time