seedings

Seedings is a term used to describe two related concepts. In competitive contexts, it denotes the ranking and placement of players or teams within a tournament bracket to influence matchups. In agriculture and horticulture, seedings (more commonly seeding or sowing) refers to the act of placing seeds into soil or growing medium to establish plants.

In sports, seeding aims to balance competition by preventing early meetings between top performers and rewarding higher-ranked entrants. Rankings from governing bodies, past results, and current form typically determine seed order. Bracket layouts position seeds to maximize distance between top seeds, sometimes including byes for the highest seeds. Some tournaments reseed after rounds or adjust based on entrants, while others follow static predetermined brackets. Seeding can affect revenue and competitive fairness but may disadvantage late entrants or players returning from hiatus, leading to debates about criteria and updates.

In agriculture, seeding or sowing covers methods of placing seeds in soil, either directly or via transplanting seedlings. Seed rates, seeding depth, timing, and soil conditions influence germination and stand establishment. Treatments such as coating, inoculation, or stratification may be used to improve germination or disease resistance. Modern precision sowing employs machinery and data-driven planning to optimize density and resource use. The term seedings is less common in this context, with seeding or sowing preferred. Seeding practices vary by crop type, climate, and intended management, and they intersect with broader topics such as soil health, weed control, and crop yield optimization.