Subject: Re: [growingsmallfarms] Cover crop seeding rate questions

From: "Joel Gruver" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:22:53 -0400

Hello folks,

Click on the following link to access a table of seeding rate info (lbs of
seed per acre,  # of seeds per lb, # of seeds per square foot...) for a wide
variety of crops.

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/procrop/sds/susrvc04.htm

In addition, the following examples of seeding rate calculations may be of
interest...

Based on the information in the NDSU table

bushel of rye = 56 lbs
18,200 rye seeds per lb * 56 lbs  = 1,019,200 seeds per acre
1,019,200 seeds per acre / 43560 square feet per acre = 23 seeds per square
foot

If you want to calculate seeds per row foot, you have to choose a row
spacing...

Many grain drills plant rows that are 7.5 inches apart...

1 acre divided up into 7.5 " rows  = 43560 square feet /  (7.5 inches /12
inches per foot)  = 69696 row feet per acre

1,019,200 seeds per acre / 69696 row feet per acre --> ~ 14 seeds per row
foot

If the grain drill plant 6 " rows...

1 acre divided up into 6" rows = 43560/ (6/12) = 87120 row feet per acre

1,019,200 seeds per acre / 87120 row feet per acre --> ~ 11 seeds per row
foot

***************************

I hope that these calculations make sense to all who have chosen to read
this far down...

If you would like to win a prize :->, calculate the number of plants per row
foot when 5 lbs of oil seed sunflowers are planted per acre in 30" rows.
Assume 7,700 seeds per lb and 90 % germination.

The first person to send me a correct answer wins !

Joel

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robin Kohanowich" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>; <[email-masked]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 11:32 AM
Subject: [growingsmallfarms] Cover crop seeding rate questions

> Hi Everyone- we (at the CCCC land lab) are looking for a good resource to
tell us some more specific details about planting cover crops than the
pounds/acre number that can be found everywhere.
> For example- how far apart are rows of rye if using a drill method of
planting?
> When using rye/vetch combo, in a broadcast seeding method what should the
ground look like (number of seeds/square ft?)
> I've checked ATTRA, New Farm and Growing Small Farms (and seed catalogs)
and we are not finding that info- what is the common wisdom out there-
Thanks!
>
> Robin Kohanowich
> Coordinator, The Sustainable Farming Program
> CCCC
> 764 West Street
> Pittsboro, NC 27312
>
>
>