A Time‐Efficient Scooping Method to Prepare Cover Crop Seed for Cone Planters

Abstract

Cone planters (CP) uniformly distribute seed over research plots; however, preparing seed for CP by weighing is time‐consuming. This study evaluated (i) the effect of seed preparation method (scooping with a calibrated cup vs. weighing) on population density of monoculture cover crops planted with a CP, (ii) time required for scooping vs. weighing, and (iii) the effect of scooping on segregation of pre‐made cover crop mixtures. Monocultures included mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.], rye (Secale cereale L.), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) planted at 1×, 2×, and 4× seeding rates; 1× rates in pure live seed m−2 were 24 (faba bean), 43 (common vetch), 291 (rye), and 310 (mustard). Mixtures contained rye, oat (Avena sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), faba bean, common vetch, or pea (Pisum sativum L.), and by weight included: Mix 1 (10% rye, 90% faba bean), Mix 2 (10% oat, 90% faba bean), Mix 3 (10% barley, 90% faba bean), Mix 4 (10% common vetch, 90% rye), and Mix 5 (10% rye, 25% pea, 30% common vetch, 35% faba bean). Seed preparation method did not affect the population densities of the monocultures. Preparing seed packets was at least two times more time‐consuming with the weighing than scooping method. Calibrating cups to scoop within 1% of the desired seed packet weight was not difficult. However, segregation occurred while scooping some mixtures from a bucket whereby smaller‐seeded components increased with scooping depth. Simple methods to detect seed segregation in mixtures are discussed.