Method for discharging seed particles or plants onto a field, comprising the following steps: making available a machine for discharging the seed particles or plants, which machine can be moved over the field in a working direction and is equipped with a position-determining system which outputs two-dimensional, horizontal coordinates, defining the distance (I soll), measured in the working direction, at which adjacent seed particles or plants are to be discharged onto the field, determining the inclination (α) of the field in the working direction of the machine, and discharging the seed particles or plants at the defined distance (I soll) by means of a sowing or planting device, on the basis of the two-dimensional coordinates, output by the position-determining system, and the inclination (α) of the field in the working direction, wherein the machine comprises a plurality of sowing or planting devices which are arranged laterally one next to the other transversely with respect to the working direction and are actuated separately from one another with the aim of maintaining a two-dimensional pattern of the discharged seed particles or plants, characterized in that the sowing or planting device is activated if the distance x = I soll · cos (α) which has been detected by means of the position-determining system and is measured in the horizontal coordinate system has been travelled along since the last activation of said sowing or planting device, and in that the parameters of the pattern relate, in addition to the distance (I soll) between adjacent seed particles or plants in the working direction of the machine, to the relative offset (d) of seed particles or plants in the working direction of the machine in two rows which are adjacent transversely with respect to the working direction of the machine. making available a machine for discharging the seed particles or plants, which machine can be moved over the field in a working direction and is equipped with a position-determining system which outputs two-dimensional, horizontal coordinates, defining the distance (I soll), measured in the working direction, at which adjacent seed particles or plants are to be discharged onto the field, determining the inclination (α) of the field in the working direction of the machine, and discharging the seed particles or plants at the defined distance (I soll) by means of a sowing or planting device, on the basis of the two-dimensional coordinates, output by the position-determining system, and the inclination (α) of the field in the working direction, wherein the machine comprises a plurality of sowing or planting devices which are arranged laterally one next to the other transversely with respect to the working direction and are actuated separately from one another with the aim of maintaining a two-dimensional pattern of the discharged seed particles or plants, characterized in that the sowing or planting device is activated if the distance x = I soll · cos (α) which has been detected by means of the position-determining system and is measured in the horizontal coordinate system has been travelled along since the last activation of said sowing or planting device, and in that the parameters of the pattern relate, in addition to the distance (I soll) between adjacent seed particles or plants in the working direction of the machine, to the relative offset (d) of seed particles or plants in the working direction of the machine in two rows which are adjacent transversely with respect to the working direction of the machine.