Seemnekogusele

Seemnekogusele is an Estonian term referring to the seeding rate or quantity of seed used for sowing crops. It describes the amount of seed needed to achieve a desired plant density per unit area and is used in planning, purchasing, and calibrating sowing equipment.

The word combines seemne- meaning seed and kogus meaning amount, with the suffix -le forming a sense of direction or allocation. In practice, seemnekogusele denotes the target seed quantity to allocate for sowing.

Factors that influence the seeding rate include crop species and cultivar, seed quality (germination rate and vigor), seed size (seeds per kilogram), sowing method (drill or broadcast), soil conditions, moisture, depth, row spacing, and planter calibration. Because these variables vary widely, seeding rates are typically expressed as kilograms per hectare or as a recommended value from seed suppliers.

Calculation methods commonly used in agronomy include two approaches. First, using a recommended rate provided by seed suppliers in kilograms per hectare (kg/ha). Second, when targeting a specific plant density, D (plants per square meter), with germination rate G and seeds per kilogram SPK, the seeding rate in kg/ha can be estimated as: kg/ha = (D / G) / SPK × 10,000. For example, with D = 50 plants/m^2, G = 0.85, and SPK = 20,000 seeds/kg, the calculation gives approximately 29 kg/ha.

In practice, seemnekogusele is adjusted based on field conditions, equipment performance, and experience, ensuring the grown stand matches agronomic goals.