Rate of sowing
Rate of sowing needs to be calculated on the basis of the number of plants required per unit area. The weight of material sown per unit area will depend on whether the material is being sown as naked caryopses, uncontaminated dispersal units or dispersal units plus trash. It will also depend on expected germination percentages and survival of seedlings. Germination and survival are often much lower in a field situation which relies on natural rainfall than in a controlled laboratory or watered field trial. Sowing rate is often limited by seed availability, but in general, a higher sowing rate will help establish groundcover more quickly and help preclude weed establishment.
