Sowing seeds and seedling production

In crop farming, seedlings are produced using two major systems: container
systems and seedbed systems.

1. Container systems

Various systems can be used to raise seedlings: seed-boxes, seedling trays, plastic bags, plastic
cups, discarded cans, and plastic bottles. Seed-boxes are most commonly used for the large-
scale production of seedlings.

Any containers should be provided with holes for drainage before being filled with a potting soil
mixture. Commercially produced potting soil mixtures can be bought; however, a mixture can be
made up using local and available materials such as:

✔ 3 parts topsoil or clay

✔ 3 parts pen manure
✔ 1 part sharp sand
✔ 1 part rotted coffee hulls, bagasse, sawdust, coconut fiber bast or compost
✔ 500g dolomitic limestone per cubic meter of topsoil

⮚ Seed-boxes, otherwise known as nursery boxes, as

used for sowing seeds, pricking-off (thinning out)
seedlings, and raising young crop plants.
A typical seed-box is 35cm long, 25cm wide, and 7cm
deep, and constructed of wooden laths nailed
together. At the base, there should be 5mm wide
slights for drainage.

⮚ Seedling trays are commercially made and are now more

widely used than seed-boxes. The trays are made of expanded
polystyrene (styrotex), 75 cm long, 35cm wide, and 7cm deep,
divided into compartments.

2. Seedbeds systems are useful for the production of seedlings

for field crops requiring a large number of plants, such as rice, cabbage, tomato, and
sweet pepper.

They are established close to the field plot, making it easy to transplant the seedlings, and
saving time, labor, and transportation costs. A typical seedbed is 3m long and 1m wide,
cambered for surface drainage, and surrounded by box drains for sub-surface drainage. The
soil should be manured and have a fine tilt.

To prepare a seedbed:

● Brush-cut the area and clear it of grass and bush

● Plough with a hand tractor or garden fork
● Refine the soil to a fine tilt using a rotavator, hoe, or rake
● Dig box drains
● Level the soil and camber
● Add pen or compost manure to a depth of 2-4 cm
● Add NPK fertilizer (10:15:10) at a rate of 30g per square meter if required. This may not
be needed if the seeds are following a legume such as a pigeon pea
● Mix manure and fertilizer with the top 4-8cm of soil
● Level the soil and remove large pieces of organic matter with a rake
● Keep an eye on the young plants. If there is evidence that pests or fungus are present,
spray with insecticide or fungicide.