Seed Rate Calculation for

Experiment

Avjinder Singh Kaler

This is the basic document for student to assist in seed rates calculation

for their experiment.

Seed rates can be calculated by two ways: by plot and by row.

By Plot

Simple formula to calculate the seed rate per plot is:

Seed Density per acre x Plot Size

Seed Density vary depending on your crop and experiment. You have to

decide which plant population you needed for your experiment.

For example, in soybean, we have different Seed Density like

120000, 150000, 200000 (seeds per acre).

Plot Size: You need to decide what plot size you need for your

experiment, means length and width of plot. For example, plot size is 15

ft x 5 ft. 15ft is length of plot and 5 ft is width of plot.

So total area of plot is 15 x 5 = 75 ft2.

Now we know the seed density and plot size. Let calculate the seed rate

required per plot.

Suppose I am using 150,000 plants per acre and plot size is 75 ft2.

150,000 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒 × 75 𝑓𝑡2 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑡

We can see that units are not same. Let make the unit same in the above

equation.

150,000 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠

𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒 ×

75 𝑓𝑡2

𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑡

Let change acre to ft2. 1 acre is equal to 43,560 ft2.

150,000 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠

𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒 ×

1 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒

43,560 𝑓𝑡2 ×

75 𝑓𝑡2

𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑡= 259 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑡

After cancelling, we obtained the 259 seeds per plot.

This is way you can calculate the seed rate per plot for you experiment.

You need to decide seed density and plot size.

By Row

Formula to calculate the seed rate per row and then you can decide hoq

many rows you want in your plot:

Seed Density per acre x Row Length x Row spacing

Seed Density vary depending on your crop and experiment. You have to

decide which seed density per acre you needed for your experiment.

For example, in soybean, we have different Seed Density like

120000, 150000, 200000 (seeds per acre).

Row Length: You need to decide what row length you need for your

experiment. For example, row length can be 18 ft, 20 ft, or 36 ft long.

Row spacing: You need to decide what row spacing you need for your

experiment. For example, row spacing can be 18 inches, 20 inches, or 36

inches.

Now we know the seed density, row length and row spacing. Let

calculate the seed rate required per row.

Suppose I am using 150,000 seeds per acre, row length 18 ft, and row

spacing 18 inches.

150,000 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠

𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒 ×

18 𝑓𝑡

𝑟𝑜𝑤 × 18 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠

We can see that units are not same. Let make the unit same in the ft.

Let change acre to ft2. 1 acre is equal to 43,560 ft2. And inches to ft 1 ft

= 12 inches

150,000 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠

𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒 ×

1 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒

43,560 𝑓𝑡2 ×

18 𝑓𝑡

𝑟𝑜𝑤 × 18 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 ×

1 𝑓𝑡

12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠

= 93 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑜𝑤

Now, you can decide how many rows plot you need. 1 row, 2 rows or 4

rows. Multiple that number with seeds per row. For example, 4 rows plot

has 4 x 93 = 372 seeds per plot.