I despair when I see how farmers sow their rice fields here, they just chuck em down as though they were trying to kill a rat with a stone. I sowed acres of lawns by hand, the machine I bought for the purpose stayed in the cellar after the first year. I would walk one way, swiping the stuff out left and right, covering 3 to 4 metres width every time, and come back with the second half at right angles, I rarely had problems with bare patches. Anybody else done this? I tried to look on Youtube, I didn't find anything like what I am trying to describe.

I showed the son in law and from his reaction I decided to go have a beer although I couldn't see any difference apart from me doing three times the surface he was doing in the same time.

sorry...

We used to call it feeding the chickens...it gives the most even spread of seed possible after you get the knack.

Liked the part about the look on the son-in-laws face

I run a forage seed business from Ubon Ratchathani University and broadcasting is the most common practice to establish pastures in Thailand and throughout Asia. The farmers by and large, seem to broadcast the small seeds very well. It is recommended that some dry sand be mixed into the small seeds to add more bulk. With some species there are over 700,000 seeds in 1 kg. We recommend that after broadcasting, the seeds be lightly covered with soil by lightly harrowing or brushing the soil surface with tree branches, brooms or rakes.

Years ago I worked on a steep hill country farm in New Zealand. We broadcast sowed the seeds by hand. Then my job was to run a large mob of sheep of 300-500 head, in a tight bunch up and down and across the field several times to trample the seeds into the ground. This method produced a beautiful even strike of grass.

Sowing seed or spreading fertilizer by hand are both similar (or even spraying chemical ). I was taught to do it in a figure 8 patern whist keeping a steady walk., not too fast, not too slow. After doing it a few times you just know how to do it and what pace it should be. Originally i was told to use a string line but i find sighting a bead on a object on one side of the patch will keep me straight. I have not done the right angled return but i acknowledge that it would be good . Using sand in the mix is a good idea for fine seed . Also doing your seeding on a still day is important . Mornings are generally best when there are minimal wind gusts or breeze.

just my two bobs worth.