Seed and Sowing

SEED AND SOWING
Seed is a fertilized ripened ovule consisting of three main

parts namely seed coat, endosperm and embryo, which in
due course gives raise to a new plant. Endosperm is the
storage organ for food substance that nourishes the
embryo during its development. Seed coat is the outer
cover that protects or shields the embryo and endosperm.
CHARACTERISTICS
A good quality seed should posses the following characteristics.
• Seed must be true to its type i.e., genetically pure, free from admixtures
and should belong to the proper variety or strain of the crop and their
duration should be according to agro-climate and cropping system of the
locality.
• Seed should be pure, viable, vigorous and have high yielding potential.
• Seed should be free from seed borne diseases and pest infection.
• Seed should be clean; free from weed seeds or any inert materials.
• Seed should be in whole and not broken or damaged; crushed or peeled
off; half filled and half rotten.
• Seed should meet the prescribed uniform size and weight.
• Seed should be as fresh as possible or of the proper age.
• Seed should contain optimum amount of moisture (8-12%).
ADVANTAGES OF USING GOOD
QUALITY SEEDS
The following are the advantages of using good quality seeds.

• Reduced cost of cleaning, standardization and disinfections.
• Uniform germination thus avoiding replanting, gap filling.
• Vigorous seedling growth, which reduces weed and disease,
damages.
• Maintain good quality under storage conditions.
Seed Germination: Germination is an activation of dormant
embryo to give rise to radical (root development) and plumule
(stem development).
Germination results in rupture of the seed coat and emergence
of seedling from embryonic axis.
Types of germination:
1. Hypogeal germination: The cotyledons remain under the

soil. E.g.: cereals, gram.
2. Epigeal germination: The cotyledons pushed above the
soil surface. E.g.: mustard, tamarind, sunflower, castor, onion.
FACTORS AFFECTING
Soil: Soil type, texture, structure and microorganism greatly influence the
seed germination.
Environment: Generally, the environmental conditions favouring growth of
seedling also favours germination. Germination does not occur until the
seeds attain physiological maturity.
Water (soil moisture and seed moisture):Imbibitions of water is the
prerequisite process for germination. Both living and dead seeds imbibe
water and swell. Dead seeds imbibe more water and swell rapidly as
compared to good seeds. Cereal grains such as maize imbibe water to
approximately 1/3 of its seed weight, soybean seeds to 1/2 of its seed weight.
Seed germination will be maximum when the soil moisture level is at field
capacity. Slower rate of germination is noticed in places where soil moisture
is near or at wilting point.
Temperature: The optimum temperature is that one gives the highest
germination percentage in the shortest period of time.
Light: The most effective wavelength for promoting and inhibiting seed
germination is red (660 nm) and infrared (730 nm), respectively.
Atmospheric gases: Most crop seeds germinate well in the ambient
composition of air with 20% O2, 0.03% CO2 and 78.2% N.
Exogenous chemicals: Some chemicals induce or favour quick and rapid

germination.
• Gibberellins stimulate germination in protoplasmic seeds.
• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used for legumes, tomato and barley.
• Ethylene (C2H4) is used for stimulating groundnut germination.

SEED RATE
Seed rate is the quantity of seed required for sowing or

planting in an unit area. The seed rate for a particular crop
would depend not only on its seed size/test weight, but also
on its desired population, germination percentage and purity
percentage of seed.
SEED TREATMENT
Seed treatment is a process of application either by mixing or
by coating or by soaking in solutions of chemicals or
protectants (with fungicidal, insecticidal, bactericidal,
nematicidal or biopesticidal properties), nutrients, hormones
or growth regulators or subjected to a process of wetting and
drying or subjected to reduce, control or repel disease
organisms, insects or other pests which attack seeds or
seedlings growing there from. Seed treatment also includes
control of pests when the seed is in storage and after it has
been sown/planted
THE SEED TREATMENT IS DONE FOR THE
FOLLOWING REASONS
• To protect from seed borne pests and diseases.

• To protect from or repel birds and rodents.
• To supply plant nutrients.
• To inoculate microorganisms.
• To supply growth regulators.
• To supply selective herbicides.
• To break seed dormancy.
• To induce drought tolerance.
• To induce higher germination percentage, early emergence.
• To facilitate mechanized sowing.
METHODS OF SEED TREATMENT
1. Dry treatment: Mixing of seed with powder form of
pesticides/nutrients.
2. Wet treatment: Soaking of seed in pesticide/nutrient solutions
3. Slurry treatment: Dipping of seeds/seedlings in slurry. Example–
rice seedlings are dipped in phosphate slurry.
4. Pelleting: It is the coating of solid materials in sufficient quantities
to make the seeds larger, heavier and to appear uniform in size for
sowing with seed drills. Pelleting with pesticides as a protectant
against soil organisms, soil pests and as a repellant against birds and
rodents.
METHODS OF SOWING
1. Seeds are sown directly in the field (seed bed) or in the nursery (nursery bed)
where seedlings are raised and transplanted later. Direct seeding may be done by
(a) Broadcasting
(b) Dibbling
(c) Drilling
(d) Sowing behind the country plough
(e) Planting
2. Transplanting
BROADCASTING
Broad casting is the scattering or spreading of the seeds on the soil,

which may or may not be incorporated into the soil. Broadcasting of
seeds may be done by hand, mechanical spreader or aeroplane.
Broadcasting is the easy, quick and cheap method of seeding.
The difficulties observed in broadcasting are uneven distribution,
improper placement of seeds and less soil cover and compaction. As
all the seeds are not placed in uniform density and depth, there is no
uniformity of germination, seedling vigour and establishment. It is
mostly suited for closely spaced and small seeded crops.
DIBBLING
It is the placing of seeds in a hole or pit made at a predetermined

spacing and depth with a dibbler or planter or very often by hand.
Dibbling is laborious, time consuming and expensive compared to
broadcasting, but it requires less seeds and, gives rapid and uniform
germination with good seedling vigour.
DRILLING
It is a practice of dropping seeds in a definite depth, covered with soil and

compacted.
Sowing implements like seed drill or seed cum fertilizer drill are used.
Manures, fertilizers, soil amendments, pesticides, etc. may be applied
along with seeds. Seeds are drilled continuously or at regular intervals in
rows. It requires more time, energy and cost, but maintains uniform
population per unit area. Rows are set according to the requirements.
SOWING BEHIND THE COUNTRY
PLOUGH
It is an operation in which seeds are placed in the plough furrow either
continuously or at required spacing by a man working behind a plough.
When the plough takes the next adjacent furrow, the seeds in the previous
furrow are closed by the soil closing the furrow. Depth of sowing is
adjusted by adjusting the depth of the plough furrow.
e.g., ground nut sowing in dry land areas of Tamil Nadu.
PLANTING
Placing seeds or seed material firmly in the soil to

grow.
TRANSPLANTING
Planting seedlings in the main field after pulling out from the nursery. It is
done to reduce the main field duration of the crops facilitating to grow
more number of crops in an year. It is easy to give extra care for tender
seedlings. For small seeded crops like rice and ragi which require shallow
sowing and frequent irrigation for proper germination, raising nursery is
the easiest way.

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SEED AND SOWING

Seed is a fertilized ripened ovule consisting of three main

The following are the advantages of using good quality seeds.

1. Hypogeal germination: The cotyledons remain under the

Exogenous chemicals: Some chemicals induce or favour quick and rapid

• Ethylene (C2H4) is used for stimulating groundnut germination.

Seed rate is the quantity of seed required for sowing or

• To protect from seed borne pests and diseases.

Broad casting is the scattering or spreading of the seeds on the soil,

It is the placing of seeds in a hole or pit made at a predetermined

It is a practice of dropping seeds in a definite depth, covered with soil and

Placing seeds or seed material firmly in the soil to

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