carefully and uniformly. If seeds are not sown uniformly, overcrowding of the crop
can happen. For sufficient sunlight, water, and other requirements, congestion
should be prevented. Traditionally, sowing was done manually, whereas nowadays
seed drilling machines are used.
8.3.2 Traditional Method
Here seeds are sown either by hand or by using tools. Sowing of seeds by hand is
called broadcasting. This is a cheap method but uniform distribution is not
maintained. Alternatively, a funnel-like tool filled with seeds is used. Seeds are
passed through pipes deep into the soil.
8.3.3 Drilling Machine
This machine is a modern method where sowing is done by iron drills connected to a
tractor. Here also funnels filled with seeds are present at the top of the drill. When the
plough moves, seeds are distributed into the furrow made by the plough and covered.
This method is more advantageous than the traditional method. Seeds are distributed
at regular intervals and depth, and the method is also profitable in terms of both labor
and time. Selection and sowing of seeds are agricultural practices that demand
extreme attention and care.
8.4 Crop Rotation
Growing different kinds of dissimilar crops on the same soil area in different seasons
is known as crop rotation, done to prevent only one type of nutrient remaining in the
soil, which also helps in increasing soil fertility and crop yield by reducing soil
erosion. For phytoremediation strategies, this kind of remediating plant variety
rotation should initially be considered under field conditions; which may likely
prevent plant diseases caused by different kinds of pathogens (Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Alternaria), weed buildup, and even insect attacks.
8.5 Crop Maintenance: Pest Control and Irrigation
With soil fertility, selection of crops, and crop rotation, effective pest control should
be efficiently managed to obtain the expected incremental changes in yield using
irrigation systems. This is an effective agronomic practice that gains importance in
soil reclamation and erosion control using irrigation. When these conditions are
disturbed or ignored unknowingly without proper understanding, the lesser the yield.
4 Recent Advances in Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals from Contaminated. . .
103
can happen. For sufficient sunlight, water, and other requirements, congestion
should be prevented. Traditionally, sowing was done manually, whereas nowadays
seed drilling machines are used.
8.3.2 Traditional Method
Here seeds are sown either by hand or by using tools. Sowing of seeds by hand is
called broadcasting. This is a cheap method but uniform distribution is not
maintained. Alternatively, a funnel-like tool filled with seeds is used. Seeds are
passed through pipes deep into the soil.
8.3.3 Drilling Machine
This machine is a modern method where sowing is done by iron drills connected to a
tractor. Here also funnels filled with seeds are present at the top of the drill. When the
plough moves, seeds are distributed into the furrow made by the plough and covered.
This method is more advantageous than the traditional method. Seeds are distributed
at regular intervals and depth, and the method is also profitable in terms of both labor
and time. Selection and sowing of seeds are agricultural practices that demand
extreme attention and care.
8.4 Crop Rotation
Growing different kinds of dissimilar crops on the same soil area in different seasons
is known as crop rotation, done to prevent only one type of nutrient remaining in the
soil, which also helps in increasing soil fertility and crop yield by reducing soil
erosion. For phytoremediation strategies, this kind of remediating plant variety
rotation should initially be considered under field conditions; which may likely
prevent plant diseases caused by different kinds of pathogens (Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Alternaria), weed buildup, and even insect attacks.
8.5 Crop Maintenance: Pest Control and Irrigation
With soil fertility, selection of crops, and crop rotation, effective pest control should
be efficiently managed to obtain the expected incremental changes in yield using
irrigation systems. This is an effective agronomic practice that gains importance in
soil reclamation and erosion control using irrigation. When these conditions are
disturbed or ignored unknowingly without proper understanding, the lesser the yield.
4 Recent Advances in Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals from Contaminated. . .
103