Why is it necessary to sow seeds at appropriate depth? (2024)

FAQs

Why is it necessary to sow seeds at appropriate depth? ›

Importance of Correct Seed Depth: Planting seeds at the right depth is essential for proper germination. Seeds planted too deep may struggle to germinate or may not germinate at all. General Rule of Thumb: A good guideline is to plant seeds at a depth approximately twice their width or thickness.

The seeds should be sown at appropriate depth because seeds sown superficially can be eaten by the birds. Also, the seeds should not be sown too close as the plants will not get enough space to grow and will compete for space, nutrients and sunlight.

Planting conditions/depth has direct impact on seed-to-soil contact as well as seeds' access to adequate moisture and temperature. Planting too shallow may result in poor germination due to low soil moisture retention near the soil surface or seed injury due to insects or disease.

This ensures that each seed gets enough water, space and fertilizers fed to them.

If they are crowded at one place then they will not be able to get sufficient sunshine minerals and water required for growth.

If planted too shallow, these roots will not establish and you will end up with a plant that is only anchored by the main radical root. Seedlings will flop in a stiff breeze, be very quick to fall over, and be more susceptible to lack of soil moisture, and damage from herbicides or fertilizer injury.

Selecting good quality seeds for sowing a crop is essential for achieving high crop yield and better quality produce. It also contributes to sustainable agriculture by reducing the need for chemical inputs and promoting environmentally friendly practices.

Use the Rule of Thumb

For any given seed, sowing it at a depth equal to two or three times its diameter is almost certain to give the best chance of success. For larger bean seeds this could mean sowing 2.5cm deep or even more. For coriander-sized seed, around 6mm is ideal.

Deeper seeding can reduce stand density and plant vigor because of the inability of the coleoptile to reach the surface.

Deep seed sowing has a number of effects on seedling growth. For instance, there may be an increase in the time between seed germination and seedling emergence as found by Li [6] which largely determines the ranking of seedlings in the competitive hierarchy for growth resources [7].

Why is it important to properly space seeds? ›

Proper plant spacing helps us to avoid a tangled mess of branches in the garden. By giving plants enough room to grow into maturity, we ensure they remain visually pleasing long into the future. Aesthetics aside, plant spacing is critical to ensuring long-term plant health.

If the seeds are sown close to each other, the resulting plants on growing will not get sufficient sunlight, nutrients and water from the soil. Hence some or all of the plants will show weak growth.

Always sow evenly and thinly to avoid excessive thinning out of the crop afterwards. Then water the soil after sowing. Some crops, especially leafy brassicas, are sown in a seed bed.

Moreover, seed mass is a key determinant of plant reproductive strategies that has important ecological consequences. For example, larger-seeded plants often germinate, survive and grow at higher rates than smaller-seeded plants [5,6].

Planting & Soil

Most seeds need darkness to germinate, but others need light and are just left on the surface of the soil. Also pay attention to how much space they require from other seeds. Plants that are too close to each other will stunt each others growth.

Seed spacing – Medium: Plant four plants or seeds per square foot, in two rows of two. Includes lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, broad bean, garlic, bok choy, spinach, roquette, or arugula. Leave a space of 15 cm or 6″ between plants. Seed spacing – Small: Plant eight plants or seeds per square foot, in two rows of four.

The rule of thumb is to plant seeds at a depth equal to two or three times their width. It is better to plant seeds too shallow than too deep. Some seeds, such as certain Lettuces or Snapdragon, need light to germinate and should not be covered at all.

Seedling growth generally decreased with increase in sowing depth. It is recommended that seeds of D. guineense should be sown at shallow depths (from 3 to 6 cm) since best germination and seedling growth were observed at the two depths.

If they can't get enough oxygen underground, they will not be able to expand. So, the air is essential for the germination of the seed. Seeds planted deep in the soil do not germinate because they are unable to get enough oxygen.

Sowing too sparsely can lead to low utilization of a field's potential, while sowing too densely can result in plants competing with each other for light, water and nutrients, often leading to lower yields.