What is direct seeding? | Gardening On

Direct sowing is interesting to grow plants in an ecological way

Direct sowing is interesting to grow plants in an ecological way

In well-known conservation agriculture a main technique called direct seeding is used. Conservation agriculture is one that does not use nitrogen or artificial fertilizers and works with minimal tillage so as not to damage the soil or lose it.

Direct seeding represents a considerable advance in crop production technology because it makes agriculture harmoniously related to nature. Do you want to know what it is and how it works?

Definition

Direct seeding is a cultivation technique

Direct sowing is a cultivation technique

Direct seeding is one that does not cause any type of damage to the soil, since it does not have any tillage and so only leaves 30% residue from the previous harvest in the soil. Therefore, direct seeding is not one that is done by sowing and cultivating in a single pass, with a team working the soil and a seeder.

Characteristics of direct seeding

In direct sowing, crop residues are evenly distributed and left on the ground to prevent erosion and serve as a contribution of organic matter. When working with the soil, no element is used to turn the soil and incorporate the crops.

Applies a non-polluting desiccant herbicide before sowing to avoid damage. A specialized seeder cuts the mulch and accumulated dried residue on the ground, depositing the seeds (and fertilizer) with minimal disturbance.

Crop rotations are essential for direct seeding. In this way, the soil will not be forced by those crops that require more nutrients and will be able to regenerate them when those less demanding are cultivated.

Direct seeding helps in the control of pests and diseases, as well as improving the structure of the soil. By leaving the remains of other crops scattered on the ground, erosion is reduced by 90% and both biological activity and biodiversity increase.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of direct seeding?

Direct seeding has advantages and disadvantagesDirect seeding has advantages and disadvantages

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

Direct sowing is a widely used technique, but before deciding on it and not another it is important that you keep in mind that it has some pros and cons that you should know so that unforeseen events do not arise:

Advantages

Disadvantages

In direct seeding it is key to remove unwanted herbs

for example manually. Now, in order to avoid that they come out (or that many come out), before sowing anything you can place an anti-weed mesh on the ground, and make some holes where you are going to sow the seeds.

Now, another of the disadvantages, which by the way is also common in potted crops, is the proliferation of pests and diseases. These are advised to combat them with Home Remedies, or failing that, with products suitable for organic farming.

How is direct sowing?

Direct sowing, although by its name we can already get an idea of ​​what it is like, the truth is that there are two different ways of doing it. They are as follows:

Broadcast seeding

It is a technique that consists of take a handful of small seeds and toss them in such a way that they are as well scattered as possible on the previously fertilized soil. Then they are covered with a little soil and, finally, it is watered.

Sowing online

Planting in rows is interesting for growing plants

Planting in rows is interesting for growing plants

To sow the seeds in lines or in rows, what is done is dig trenches slightly deeper than the size of the seeds as well as the height of the plants once they reach adulthood.

There are two ways to do it:

  • to chorrillos: small seeds are taken and they are scattered by the row dropping them inside. Afterwards, they are covered with soil without compacting it, and it is watered.
  • To blows: holes are always made at the same distance in each row or line, and a maximum of three seeds are inserted in each one. Finally, they are covered without compacting the earth, and it is watered.

With this information you will know something more about conservation techniques in agriculture.

What is direct seeding? | Gardening On

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