RIDGE SOWING
This method is particularly important for the early crop sown in February. the field is divided into plots and within each ridges are made 45 cm apart. If possible these should be made running East-West. Seeds are dibbled 1 cm below the soil surface keeping a distance of 15 cm between hills. seed is dibbled on the top of the ridge or slightly on the side facing the sun. This is very important for early crop, as the side facing the sun attains a temperature several degrees higher than that on the other side. This high temperature affects the seed germination favourably. Ridge sowing for early crop has another advantage. Seeds take many days to germinate and often an irrigation is required to keep up the right moisture content in the soil. In this case pre-emergence irrigation does not lead to crust formation as water is not allowed to run over the ridges.