*4.4.7 Crop scheduling*

Sowing date and optimum seed rate are pillars for good stand and crop cover. The sowing date must be so adjusted that by the time intensive rainfall take place, there is enough of vegetation cover on the land. This can be done by advancing the date of sowing or even dry sowing in rainfed areas is always recommended. A study conducted at Dehradun in Northern India reported that sowing of Maize at the start of last week of June month produced higher and dense canopy at peak rainfall period, which in turn reduced the splash erosion considerably as compared to crop sown on first week of July. Similarly, the canopy coverage and crop yields were higher under early sowing in Maize + Cowpea intercropping system [28].
