14 
Bulletin 1356, U. S. Department of Agriculture 
RATE AND METHOD OF SEEDING 
Rate-of-seeding experiments were conducted to determine the 
quantity of well-matured and recleaned seed necessary to secure 
optimum stands and maximum yields. For these experiments the 
land was plowed in winter to a depth of 5 to 7 inches and seed sown 
approximately May 1, broadcast and by drill, at varying rates on 
a smooth seed bed. " The drilled seed was* sown at a depth of 2 inches, 
and the broadcasted seed was harrowed in. The data on both drilled 
and broadcast seedings are given in Table 11. The largest average 
acre yield was obtained when seed was sown with a drill at the rate 
of 80* pounds per acre, although the yield from the 100-pound drilled 
seeding was practically the same. For the entire 6-year period the 
average yields slightly favor the drilled seedings. The result is not 
consistent for every season, owing to the effect of seasonal conditions. 
Table 11. — Annual and average yields of Wataribune rice obtained in the 
rate-of-seeding experiments at the Rice Experiment Station, Crowley, La., 
during the 6-year period from 1917 to 1922, inclusive 
Method and rate of seeding per acre 
Yields per acre (pounds) 
Annual 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
Average for 
years stated 
(dates 
inclusive) 
4 years, 
1917 to 
1920 
6 years, 
1917 to 
1922 
Seed drilled: 
60 pounds 
80 pounds 
100 pounds 
Seed sown broadcast 
60 pounds 
80 pounds 
100 pounds 
1,300 
1,780 
1,980 
2.100 
2,100 
2,640 
1,680 
2,760 
2,750 
1,450 
1,300 
1,550 
1,470 
1,680 
1,600 
2,340 
2,130 
2,750 
2,060 
2,600 
2,240 
2,510 
2.400 
2,680 
3,060 
2,810 
2.700 
1,890 
2.040 
2,290 
1,700 
1,520 
1,080 
1,400 
1,628 
2,205 
2,143 
2,100 
1,983 
2,405 
1,910 
2,278 
2,260 
1,785 
2,090 
The quantity of rice seed that may be required to obtain a good 
stand depends upon many factors, but mainly on the kind of bed 
upon which the seed is to be sown and the date of seeding. If the 
seed bed has been well prepared, good germination always results 
when the seed is sown after May 1. Less seed is necessary under 
such conditions than on a rough and cloddy seed bed, where the seed 
can not be evenly and uniformly distributed in the moist soil. If 
the date of seeding is earlier than May 1, the rate of seeding should 
be increased relatively, because the cold rains which are frequent 
before that date often cause a large percentage of the seed to rot. 
A larger quantity of seed also is needed to sow land that is very 
weedy. The long-grain varieties of rice, which do not usually tiller 
as freely as the short-grain varieties, probably also should be sown 
at a greater rate per acre. Preliminary experiments, however, indi- 
cate that even with long-grain varieties 100 pounds of seed, when 
.-own under favorable soil and weather conditions, is sufficient to 
give a stand that will produce large yields. 
