Drill and Broadcast Seeding
Despite living in a highly-technological world, some things do not change. For instance, we still need food in order to live. For the most part, the majority of our food comes from the ground. Agriculture is still here to stay, and it's not going away soon.
Agriculture has its fair share of technological advancement. New techniques on planting seeds have been developed. In this article, we are going to focus on drill seeding and broadcast seeding, the advantages of each seeding process and the things that you should be aware.
Drill Seeding
Drill seeing is a seeding process that may be similar to surgery. It’s precise and calculated. As the name suggests, drill seeding is all about drilling a hole into the ground, and then laying the seeds into the same hole.
The process can be done by a hand, but the most efficient way of doing it is by using a specialized tractor. The tractor will require a special seeding attachment. The seeding attachment is also termed as a drill.
The drill makes use of a mechanical system to open a hole. The system will then place a seed at a pre-determined depth, and then proceeds to cover the whole. Aside from being able to regulate the depth of the seed, you can also regulate the rate of application. Drill seeding is best done on level and large areas.
Drill seeding has its advantages. For one, it is low cost, especially if you compare it with other kinds of erosion control treatments. Also, the system does not use fiber or wood, hence the overall cost is generally cheaper.
Drill seeding allows for better vegetative cover. Since you are placing the seed into the soil, you will add another layer of protection that might inhibit seed germination like birds, the wind or the sun.
Lastly, the vegetation that is brought by drill seeding offers one most long-germ effective treatment when it comes to erosion control.
The downside of drill seeding is speed. Because the seeding process requires precision, the overall completion time will be much longer compared to other techniques like broadcast seeding.
Broadcast Seeding
If the drill seeding is a sniper rifle, then broadcast seeding is a shotgun. Broadcast seeding is a seeding method that is all about scattering the seed in a predetermined area. This can be done by a machine or hand. Of course, for larger areas, a machine will be much more efficient and cost effective.
Broadcast seeding is often used if dense plant spacing is desired, like lawns and cover crops. Oftentimes, after the seeds are broadcasted, a raking action follows to slightly bury the seeds.
Broadcast seeding has its advantages. As a seeding method, it is the least costly compared to Hydroseeding and drill seeding. Another reason is why it is cheaper is because it will require minimal time and labor.
In some areas that vegetation is harder to establish, broadcast seeding is often the best solution.
Broadcast seeding has its downsides like the high chance of overcrowding and lack of accuracy when it comes to the correct depth.