Meaning of Supplying
In the field, some seeds planted or sown may fail to germinate due to certain factors such as poor seed quality, averse climate conditions, the problem of pests and diseases, poor seed handling, and farmers‘ inability to carry out seed viability testing. Due to these factors, farmers many need to replace the seed that fails to germinate so as to maintain the plant population density.
The term supplying or filling -in refers to an agronomic practice of replaying seed or seedlings that failed to germinate so as to maintain the plant population density. It is post planting operation which involves filling in or transplanting young seedling to replace the dead seedling, weak or seedlings that fail to germinate in the field. It is done either by directly replacing in the same spot where the seed fail to germinate or by transplanting healthy seeding to replace the fail seedling.
Supply in crop production is different from supply in economic. Supplying in crop production is an agronomic practice aimed at maintaining the plant population density, while supplying in economics is the quantity of goods that a farmers or producer is willing to take to the market at a particular time and price. Although supplying in agriculture is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and energy-tapping, executing the agronomic practice is worthwhile. It ensures failed, weak, and unhealthy seed or seedlings are replace to achieve an accurate and uniform plant population so as to increase productivity.
Supplying help to prevent scattered and uniform spacing to maintain an adequate plant population in the farmland. The practice promote adequate utilization of space, water, air, and soil nutrient in adequate manners. Supplying should be done two to three weeks after full germination has been attained as to prevent over shading and competition from light and air.
Tip for Supplying in Agriculture
Supplying in crop production should be done with diligence to attain the specific objective. Some of the tips for the successful execution of supplying or filling-in in the field are:
- Ensure that the seed planted earlier is weak or dying.
- Identify the hole or position where the initial seed fails to germinate.
- Ensure that seeds are planted in the same hole where the initial plant failed to avoid overcrowding.
- Preferably, the transplants to maintain uniformity, where the seed is not transplantable, it should be planted directly into the hole.
- For fear of another failure, the farmers can plant more than normal seeds per pole and later thin down.
- If it is a transplanted seedling, it should be done in the morning or cool in the evening, this is to present a transplanting shock.
- Water supplied plants morning and evening until full germination is achieved.
Difference Between Supplying and Thinning in Crop Production.
| S/no | Supplying | thinning |
| 1 | It involve replacing seed that fail to germinate in the field | It involve removing weak, dying and even healthy plant to space for the remaining plant to growth and reproduce |
| 2 | It is executed to maintain adequate spacing or plant population density | It is executed to reduce overcrowding |
| 3 | It is majorly carry to increase crop quantity and yield | It is majorly carry to maintain crop quality and yield |
Importance of Supplying in Crop Production.
- It helps replace seeds that fail to germinate in the field.
- It helps to maintain adequate spacing or plant population density in field.
- It is increases crop quantity or yields.
- Helps to ensure adequate utilization of nutrient in the soil.
- Helps to ensure adequate utilization of soil air, and water.
- Replace Weak and Unhealthy Seedlings: To maintain an adequate plant population in the field, weak and unhealthy seedlings that fail to germinate should be replaced. This ensure proper utilization of soil nutrient and other resources such as air and water. Additionally, filling-in help to replace weak and unhealthy seedlings, thereby promoting the uniform growth and development of crops.
- Maintain Adequate Spacing or Plant Population Density: When ungerminated or failed seeds in the field are not replace, they create regular spacing or scattered crops stands in the field. This lead to poor resources utilization, waste of resources, and an increase in weed incidence in the farm. These lead to increased production, as the yield from such a farm cannot be equated with the resources invested. Therefore, supplying it is executed to maintain proper spacing or optimal plant population density.
- Increase Crop Quantity or Yield: filling-in help to maintain adequate population density, which in turn translates into increased crop quantity and overall yield. Although widely spaced crops may produce large individual plants. However, maintaining the spacing per population helps to ensure a higher total yield per unit area.
- Adequate Utilization of Soil Nutrient: Uneven or scattered plant population leads to underutilization of nutrient in the soil. By filling-in, farmers can ensure soil nutrient are adequate absorbed and utilize.
- Efficient Utilization of Soil Air and Water: Filling-in or supplying enhance efficient utilization of soil air and water. By maintaining an adequate uniform plant population, they collectively carry out the efficient use of these resources for healthy growth and development.
Frequently Ask Questions
What is thinning and supplying in Agriculture?
Thinning involve removing weak, dying and even healthy plant to give room for the remaining plant to growth and reproduce while supplying involve replacing seed that fail to germinate in the field and supplying in agriculture
What is supplying in a post-planting operation?
Supplying is a post planting operation which involves filling in or transplanting young seedling to replace the dead seedling, weak or seedlings that fail to germinate in the field.
What is Supplying and Filling in agriculture?
The term supplying and filling-in in agriculture refers to agronomic practice of replacing seeds or seedlings that failed to germinate so as to maintain the plant population density.
Supplying in Crop Production
Supplying in crop production is an agronomic practice of replacing seeds or seedlings that failed to germinate in the field so as to maintain accurate plant population density.