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by Gwen Herat

Luxurient flowers and foliage can be produced with healthy planters and seed as a row crop or individual plants. These flowers and foliage are fine examples of such effortless creations.

Planting a row crop was an art till recently; now it has become both an art and a passion among farmers, whether commercial, small-time or home-gardening. Unlike the small-time gardener, the commercial crop producer is engaged in an industry that means business as well as stabilising his country economically. He feeds the country as well as help export and invests his time, labour and money to obtain a profit measured by the yield.

Therefore, he needs to obtain perfect or near perfect crop stands. The first step to improving crop production is big challenge. It involves selecting the very best in seed and best machinery for the job. It applies to the gardener as well if he has a large plot and cannot possibly deal manually. Therefore, the selection whether large or small needs careful planning.

Selection of seed

In terms of adaptability, seed should be preferred for yield potential, resistance to lodging disease and also shattering or cracking. It is very essential that seed should possess genetic vigour. In the selection of variety, lodge resistance is very important. This is because the grainhead, pod or ball formation and/or can reduce yield substantially.

During the early growth stages, in field plots where soil fertility, especially nitrogen, is high and soil moisture is adequate, rapid vegetative growth and early lodging is likely to occur. In the event this factor is considered significantly you will find that some varieties are less subject to lodging. In most grain and tall stemmed crops, a plant population will induce greater lodging. However, this can be reduced when planting rates are kept at a moderate level.

Adaptability and field potential

It is important to note that the field in which seed or grain are to be grown should be specially suitable as much as plant variety is. For example, in a field plot where the pH is high, the farmer must plant a variety resistant to chlorosis and also to root rot disease caused by Phytophora fungus which is commonly found in field plots of poor drainage.

To control disease, plant resistant tolerant varieties (Agriculture research centres offer free advice). To best determine high yield varieties, compare their yield records with established varieties and tests in farming areas that have produced bumper harvests or even home gardens that have produced quality grain even in small measures.

These tests should be carried out under conditions similar to each and every variety. Here again the Agrarian Services should help you and advice on procedures. Remember that a variety that will make the maximum use of the growing season usually produce the highest. If you are gardener/farmer with experience, you will know how true this is.

Scientists and seasoned farmers recommend that a single variety should not be selected for an entire crop area if it is large you may have two different kinds of crop and plant at least three that differ in maturity dates from the first to the last. This would curtail and diminish the risk from yield loss that will arise out of a stress period during establishment. This will spread and sustain harvest time and grains will produce at a moisture level more manageable.

Disease resistance: Disease tolerance that is genetically built into loss of yield from certain diseases is a nightmare to farmers. Wherever a serious disease has been a continuing problem, disease resistant or tolerant varieties should be planted. This one sure way of overcoming this major problem.

Shattering varieties: These differ in their ability to hold seeds (or grain) in their pods or kernels in the head or ear after maturity. Shattering is encouraged by hot and dry weather after maturity. Vigor of Emergence: The plants of a given species or genes differ between varieties. This means that the genetic background influence their innate vigour and germination. Therefore when the selection of seed or grain or their related seedlings, these facts should be followed for better results. Experts and seed scientists feel that perfection could be based on these features. The accuracy of seed metering and placement in field, make them outstanding for ever growing number of crops which the world dearly needs.

Root rot: Phytophthora, otherwise known as root rot, is often severe on heavy clay and low, poorly drained soils. These present the greatest danger to germination and thereafter, seedlings. Since resistant varieties very often yield less than the tolerant varieties, select the one for lighter, well-drained soils and the resistant variety for clay soils. This maximises the potential for both fields and field-plots of large gardens. This must go hand in hand with tolerance to the disease and the viability to protect the crop from infection.

Seed and grain keep improving with scientific research and crop enhancement to feed the ever growing population and in turn the farmer must take up the challenge to fall in line with modern systems and even use planters where possible to obtain maximum or double crop with research left to their advantage. Grain and seed make up the bulk of our food around the world. It is also the essential part in livestock feed. Therefore, the quest to obtain best results must be the goal of the farmer, whether big or small.

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