Dibbling Seed Rate & Precision Sowing, Less Seed
Sows maize
Enter your row and hill spacing, seeds per hill and field area to get the hills, total seeds and seed weight— precision sowing that uses far less seed than broadcasting.
Size your seed lot
Next: buy about 54 kg for 134,895 hills at 2 seeds each (269,790 seeds); add a small margin for poor germination and edge refills, then thin to one strong plant per hill.
Seed weight (1000-seed weight ÷ 1000) and seeds-per-hill drive the total — over-seeding wastes costly seed, under-seeding leaves gaps. Adjust for tested germination percentage.
Dibbling seed rate — key facts
- Hills per m²
- 1 ÷ (row × hill spacing)
- Total hills
- hills/m² × area
- Total seeds
- hills × seeds per hill
- Seed weight
- seeds ÷ seeds per kg
- Seeds per hill
- usually 2–3, then thinned
- Versus broadcasting
- far less seed used
- Bonus
- even stand, easier weeding
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Place every seed where a plant should grow
Broadcasting scatters seed everywhere and wastes most of it; dibbling drops a planned handful into each hill at fixed row and hill spacing, so every seed has a job. The result is a tidy, even stand on a fraction of the seed, with easier weeding and intercultivation. The trick is knowing exactly how much seed the field needs — too little and you get gaps, too much and you have wasted costly seed.
This tool gives the hills per square metre, total hills, total seeds and seed weight from your spacing, seeds per hill and field area. Use it to buy the right amount of seed, plan thinning, and compare dibbling against broadcasting. Pair it with the Seed Rate, Plant Spacing & Population and Thousand-Grain-Weight calculators for a complete sowing plan.
Save costly seed
Use a fraction of what broadcasting needs.
Get an even stand
One plant per planned hill, no thick patches.
Buy the right amount
Total seeds and weight before you go to market.
Plan thinning
Set seeds per hill to your germination plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dibbling?+
Dibbling is precision sowing: a set number of seeds is dropped into each hill (point) at fixed row and hill spacing, rather than scattered broadcast. Because every seed has a planned place, dibbling uses far less seed, gives even plant stands and makes weeding and intercultivation easier. It is common for maize, cotton, pulses, groundnut and many vegetables.
How is the dibbling seed rate calculated?+
Hills per square metre = 1 ÷ (row spacing × hill spacing in metres). Total hills = hills per m² × field area. Total seeds = total hills × seeds per hill. Seed weight = total seeds ÷ seeds per kilogram (or × weight per seed). The tool runs this for the spacing, seeds per hill and area you enter.
How many seeds should I drop per hill?+
Usually two to three seeds per hill, then thinned to the strongest one or two seedlings after emergence. Dropping more than one is insurance against poor germination so you do not get gaps. The calculator multiplies your seeds-per-hill figure across every hill, so set it to match your germination and thinning plan.
Why does dibbling save seed compared to broadcasting?+
Broadcasting scatters seed everywhere, so much of it lands too thickly, too thinly or where it will not be wanted, and the rate has to be high to guarantee a stand. Dibbling places an exact, modest number of seeds only where a plant is meant to grow, so the same field needs a fraction of the seed and gives a tidier, more uniform crop.
What spacing should I use?+
Spacing depends on the crop and its final plant size — for example wider rows and hills for maize and cotton, closer for pulses. Use the recommended row spacing and hill (within-row) spacing for your crop and variety. The tighter the spacing, the more hills per square metre and the more seed you need.
What does hills per m² mean?+
Hills per square metre is how many planting points fit in one square metre at your chosen spacing — it is the plant-population backbone of the calculation. Multiply it by the field area (converted to square metres) to get the total number of hills, then by seeds per hill to get the seed needed.
Does this work for any field area unit?+
Yes — enter the area in acres, hectares, bigha, guntha or m² and the right number of seeds per hill, and the tool returns hills per m², total hills, total seeds and seed weight. The dibbling approach is the same across crops; only the spacing and seeds per hill change.
How do I convert seeds to seed weight?+
Seed weight depends on seed size — large seeds like maize or groundnut weigh far more per thousand than fine seeds. The tool uses the seeds-per-kilogram (or thousand-grain weight) you provide to convert total seeds into kilograms, so you can buy or measure out the right quantity for the field.
Are the figures precise?+
They are solid planning figures. Real seed use shifts with germination percentage, how many seeds you actually drop per hill, replanting of gaps, and spacing accuracy in the field. Add a small margin for poor germination and field losses, and re-check your seeds-per-kilogram for the actual seed lot.