Thinking of switching from hand broadcasting to a seed drill for wheat sowing. Is the seed and yield saving real?
Is a seed drill better than manual broadcasting for wheat?
OOmkar Singh9mo ago · 312 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓9mo ago
Yes, a seed drill places seed at uniform depth and spacing, which usually saves seed and improves germination compared to broadcasting. Even seed depth gives more uniform crop stand and easier weed control, and drilling fertiliser with seed (in a seed cum fertiliser drill) places nutrients near the root zone. Broadcasting wastes seed on the surface where birds and uneven moisture reduce germination. The exact seed and yield benefit varies by soil, moisture and calibration, so calibrate the drill for your seed rate before sowing. Over a few seasons most farmers find the seed saving and better stand justify the drill or hiring one.
RRajpal Tomar8mo ago
After moving to a seed drill my wheat stand became much more even and weeding got easier because of the row spacing. Broadcasting always gave me patchy fields.
BBrijesh Kushwaha8mo ago
I hire a seed cum fertiliser drill every rabi. Seed goes down evenly and fertiliser is placed with it, so I am not wasting urea on the surface. Worth the rental.
YYashpal Sharma8mo ago
One caution: calibrate before you sow. The first year I did not and the drill dropped too much seed in the first acre. Run it on a tarpaulin or a measured patch and adjust the seed rate first.
MMahesh Chand Gupta7mo ago
If you only have a few acres, hiring the drill makes more sense than buying. The custom hiring rate per acre is small compared to the seed I save each season. Ask your CHC or a neighbour with one.