AGRI 32 - MODULE 05

• General Methods of planting

  • Direct Seeding
  • Transplanting Method
• Direct Seeding


  • Seeds are directly planted into the soil
• Applicable to Direct Seeding

  • Seeds that readily germinate
  • Inexpensive seeds
  • Species in which the seedlings are sensitive to root disturbances
  • Big-seeded crops
  • Stem-cuttings of some crops (cassava, sweet potato, sugarcane)
  • Other propagules (suckers, tubers, crown)
• Forms of Direct Seeding

  • Broadcasting
  • Hill method
  • Drill method
  • Dibble
• Transplanting Method


  • Seedlings are initially raised in the nursery and later planted in the field or in greenhouses
• Applicable to Transplanting Method

  • Seeds that are difficult to germinate
  • Expensive seeds
  • Small-seeded plants
  • Rooted cuttings
  • Grafted plants
• Population Density


  Refers to the number of plants per unit area
• Optimum population density needed to achieve maximum yield
• Benefits of Optimum population density

  • Early build-up of sufficient leaf area index for optimum use of solar energy
  • Early and better control of weeds
  • Increase efficiency in use of land, light and water
• Factors affecting Population Density

  • Crop species and varieties
  • Soil fertility and soil management practices
  • Season
  • Method of propagation used
  • Mechanization to be employed
  • Cropping system to be adopted
• Monocropping

  Adopt the usual population density
• Multiple cropping


  Population density should be appropriately adjusted to accommodate all crops to be grown
• Factor where Optimum population density therefore varies with plant height, canopy shape and size, growth habit, horizontal spread of root system

  Crop species and varieties
• Means that crops adopt lower population density in fertile soils

  Soil fertility and soil management practices
• Factor which considers Seed vs grafted/cuttings 


  Method of propagation used
• Factor where row spacing must conform to the size of machine to be used

  Mechanization to be employed
• Direct Seeding


  • Seeds are directly planted into the soil
• Applicable to Direct Seeding

  • Seeds that readily germinate
  • Inexpensive seeds
  • Species in which the seedlings are sensitive to root disturbances
  • Big-seeded crops
  • Stem-cuttings of some crops (cassava, sweet potato, sugarcane)
  • Other propagules (suckers, tubers, crown)
• Transplanting Method


  • Seedlings are initially raised in the nursery and later planted in the field or in greenhouses
• Applicable to Transplanting Method

  • Seeds that are difficult to germinate
  • Expensive seeds
  • Small-seeded plants
  • Rooted cuttings
  • Grafted plants
• Population Density


  Refers to the number of plants per unit area
• Optimum Population Density

  • Needed to achieve maximum yield
• Benefits of Optimum Population Density

  • Early build-up of sufficient leaf area index for optimum use of solar energy
  • Early and better control of weeds
  • Increase efficiency in use of land, light and water
• Factors affecting Population Density

  • Crop species and varieties
  • Soil fertility and soil management practices
  • Season (related to availability of water and solar radiation)
  • Method of propagation used
  • Mechanization to be employed
  • Cropping system to be adopted
• Population Density Computations - Hill Method

  1. PD = Area(m2) x no.of plants per hill / S1 x S2

  2. S1 = distance between furrows

  3. S2 = distance between hills
• Population Density Computations - Drill Method

  PD = Area(m2) x no.of plants per linear meter / Distance between rows
• Planting Patterns for Perennial Crops

  • Square System
  • Rectangular System
  • Triangular System (Hexagonal)
  • Quincunx System (Diagonal)
• Population Density Computations - Square System

  PD = Area(m2) / S2
• Population Density Computations - Rectangular System

  PD = Area(m2) / S1 x S2
• Population Density Computations - Triangular System

  PD = Area(m2) / S1 x 0.866 = Area(m2) / S1 x 1.15
• Population Density Computations - Quincunx System

  PD = Area(m2) / S2 + [( L / S-1) ( W / S-1)]
• Contour System - plants are planted following the contour line in hilly/slopy areas
• Planting Operations


  • Time of Planting
  • Transplanting perennials
• Ratooning


  Biennial plants like sugarcane and pineapple produce suckers which will serve as the next crop. These new plants are called ratoons. Letting these suckers grow to serve as the next crop is called ratooning.