International Journal of Civil, Structural,

Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering

Research and Development (IJCSEIERD)
ISSN(P): 2249-6866; ISSN(E): 2249-7978
Vol. 4, Issue 4, Aug 2014, 33-38
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

NEW METHOD OF SOWING AND NATIONAL ECONOMY

SIDRAMAPPA DHARANE1 & ARCHITA MALGE2
1

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, SVERIS College of Engineering, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India
2

Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, SVERIS College of Engineering, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT
The yield of crops can be increased by changing the method of sowing. In India, at present the the method of
sowing is in such a way that the spacing of seeds in both the directions is not same. If we make this spacing of seeds in
both the directions is same leads to development of roots and branches of crops more effective and thereby increases the
yields of the crops.
In India it is observed that for most of the crops the method of sowing is in rectangular fashion. Just by changing
this rectangular method of sowing in to square or hexagonal method of sowing results in to overall increase in the yields of
the crops, also it reduces the cost of maintenance, utilizes the water and land optimum. Hence leads to improve the national
economy.

KEYWORDS: Method of Sowing, Yield of Crops, National Economy

INTRODUCTION
The present Sowing of Seed Methods of Sowing are reviewed first and the new method of sowing is explained
thereafter.
Methods of Sowing: The sowing method is determined by the crop to be sown. There are 6 sowing methods
which differ in their merits, demerits and adoption. Those are:

Broad casting

Broad or Line sowing

Dibbling

Transplanting

Planting

Putting seeds behind the plough.

Broad Casting: It is the scattering of seeds by hand all over the prepared field followed by covering with wooden

plank or harrow for contact of seed with soil. Crops like wheat, paddy, Sesamum, methi, coriander, etc. are sown by this
method.

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Sidramappa Dharane & Archita Malge

Advantages

Quickest & cheapest method

Skilled labour is not uniform.

Implement is not required,

Followed in moist condition.

Disadvantages

Seed requirement is more,

Crop stand is not uniform.

Result in gappy germination & defective wherever the adequate moisture is not present in the soil.

Spacing is not maintained within rows & lines, hence interculturing is difficult.
Drilling or Line Sowing: It is the dropping of seeds into the soil with the help of implement such as mogha, seed

drill, seed-cum-ferti driller or mechanical seed drill and then the seeds are covered by wooden plank or harrow to have
contact between seed & soil. Crops like Jowar, wheat Bajara, etc. are sown by this method.
Advantages

Seeds are placed at proper & uniform depths,

Along the rows, interculturing can be done,

Uniform row to row spacing is maintained,

Seed requirement is less than broad casting

Sowing is done at proper moisture level.

Disadvantages

Require implement for sowing,

Wapsa condition is must.

Plant to plant (Intra row) spacing is not maintained,

Skilled person is required for sowing.

Dibbling: It is the placing or dibbling of seeds at cross marks (+) made in the field with the help of maker as per

the requirement of the crop in both the directions. It is done manually by dibbler. This method is followed in crops like
Groundnut, Castor, and Hy. Cotton, etc. which are having bold size and high value.
Advantages

Spacing between rows & plants is maintained,

Seeds can be dibbled at desired depth in the moisture zone,

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.7179

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

New Method of Sowing and National Economy

Optimum plant population can be maintained,

Seed requirement is less than other method,

Implement is not required for sowing,

An intercrop can be taken in wider spaced crops,

Cross wise Intercultivation is possible.

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Disadvantages

Laborious & time consuming method,

Require more labour, hence increase the cost of cultivation,

Only high value & bold seeds are sown,

Require strict supervision.

Transplanting: It is the raising of seedlings on nursery beds and transplanting of seedlings in the laid out field.

For this, seedlings are allowed to grow on nursery beds for about 3-5 weeks. Beds are watered one day before the
transplanting of nursery to prevent jerk to the roots. The field is irrigated before actual transplanting to get the seedlings
established early & quickly which reduce the mortality. Besides the advantages & disadvantages of dibbling method, initial
cost of cultivation of crop can be saved but requires due care in the nursery. This method is followed in crops like paddy,
fruit, vegetable, crops, tobacco, etc.
Planting: It is the placing of vegetative part of crops which are vegetatively propagated in the laid out field. E.g.:
Tubers of Potato, mother sets of ginger & turmeric, cuttings of sweet potato & grapes, sets of sugarcane.
Putting Seeds behind the Plough: It is dropping of seeds behind the plough in the furrow with the help of
manual labour by hand. This method is followed for crops like wal or gram in some areas for better utilization of soil
moisture. The seeds are covered by successive furrow opened by the plough. This method is not commonly followed for
sowing of the crops
As India is agricultural country and there is anirrigated and non-irrigated land. If we speak about non- irrigated
land and discuss how to increase the yield from non-irrigated land. Then everyone will come to conclusion that the sowing
should be done in square and hexagonal fashion. There is a simple principle that if spacing between the seeds is same in
both directions, then we will get maximum yield.
In India, especially in Maharashtra, it is observed that sowing of seeds of various crops is done in one direction
and sowing is done by funnel using equipment known as thiffen. Because of this the spacing observed in both directions
is not same. In present method of sowing the spacing of the seeds in the both directions is not same, hence the development
of roots and small branches of the crops is not effective. For effective development of roots and branches of the crops it is
necessary that the method of sowing should be in such a way that the spacing between any two seeds in both the direction
must be same. Also because of this the unwanted grass will reduce considerably.

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Sidramappa Dharane & Archita Malge

Just by making spacing between the seeds in both directions same we will get the maximum yield. As well as the
maintenance cost will also become less. i. e. Removal of unwanted grass between the crops, also it maintains maximum
water content in soil.
In case of new method of sowing in square fashion the development of roots and branches will be more effective
and water utilization is optimum.
So for square and hexagonal method of sowing it is necessary to design the equipment for sowing which has
adjustable arrangement as per the requirement of crops, otherwise separate equipment is to be used for various crops as per
the crop requirement. OR use square and hexagonal mesh for sowing or plantation.
The yield will increase by 25% to 50% and the maintenance cost will reduce to 50% to 75%.
The various photographs of existing rectangular and new square and hexagonal method of sowing are shown
herewith.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Impact Factor (JCC): 5.7179

Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0

37

New Method of Sowing and National Economy

Figure 4

Figure 5

SALIENT FEATURE OF NEW METHOD OF SOWING IN SQUARE FASHION

Maximum yield

Less maintenance cost.

Development of roots of crops will be better or more effective and water utilization will be optimum.

Suitable for non-irrigated and sprinkler irrigation.

Improves the national economy.

CONCLUSIONS
In new method of sowing in which the spacing of the seeds is same in both the directions leads to develop the
roots and branches of crops more effectively. Not only this but the water utilized is optimum along with less maintenance
cost for removal of unwanted grass in between the crops. Also the land utilized is optimum; thereby it increases the yields
of crop and this new method of sowing leads to overall economy of the nation

REFERENCES
1.

www.agriinfo.in

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