Module 2: Establishment - Session 3: Sowing, Drilling & Planting

Session Overview & Objectives Get started

I can describe different ways farmers sow, drill and plant crops.
I can explain why sowing depth and seed rate matter and how they are determined.
Stretch: I can suggest a suitable method and seed rate for a crop/soil and explain why.

If you throw seed on the ground and walk away…

Think about seedbed condition, seed rate, sowing depth, placement accuracy, moisture, pests/disease and subsequent crop management.

Learning: Depth & Seed Rate Know this

📡 BroadcastSeed spread across the surface, then may be incorporated/covered.

🌾 DrillSeed placed in rows at controlled depth/spacing.

🎯 PrecisionMore accurate individual seed placement; used especially for crops such as sugar beet.

Crop → method

Sowing depth: a rule of thumb is approximately 10 × seed diameter. For example, OSR is around 15-20 mm and wheat around 40 mm using that rule.

Seed rate: the amount of seed sown per area. It is influenced by target plant population, seed size/TGW, germination %, drilling date, soil and seedbed, weed pressure, drill method, variety, seed treatment, soil fertility/type and farming objectives.

Why can later drilling require more seed?

Crop Comparison & Workplace Task Do this

🌾 CerealsWheat, barley and oats can use pneumatic drills or direct drills.

🟢 OSRSimilar drilling systems; finer seedbed and lower seed rate.

🫘 Peas/beansCan be drilled; winter beans can also be broadcast and ploughed in.

🥔 PotatoesBed/ridge preparation followed by a potato planter.

🟣 Sugar beetPrecision drilling gives accurate placement.

Build a sowing plan

Decision: Establishment Gamble Collect evidence

A farmer drilled 240 wheat seeds/m². Three 1 m² quadrats contain 210, 198 and 222 plants.

Calculate average emergence

Stretch: calculate percentage emergence and explain one reason why not every seed emerged.

Photograph drill/planter settings, seed tags and emergence counts as evidence for your Learning Journal.

Employer Discussion Talk about this

Ask your supervisor how they decide seed rate and sowing depth for a crop, and how they check the drill or planter is set up correctly. Record their answer and compare it with your sowing plan above.