Sowing and Planting

Successful crop establishment depends on several factors at the time of sowing (soil water content, soil structure and soil temperature, seed viability, presence of pests). Therefore, decisions regarding the date and depth of sowing, planting density, spatial arrangement of plants, and other cultural techniques (irrigation, fertilization, application of pesticides) will be critical. The sowing date should match the growing cycle to the best possible environmental conditions for the crop. Early spring sowings improve water use efficiency in Mediterranean areas but increase the risk of attacks by biotic factors. The seeding rate is a function of single seed mass, desired planting density, seed viability, and expected fraction of emerged plants. Trees and some annual species are sown in nurseries where they grow for some time until they are transplanted to the field. The best time for planting trees is autumn when they are dormant and the risk of desiccation is minimal.