Florence Grovida Gardening

Seed Coating

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Seeds vary greatly in size, shape and colour. Many seeds are small and irregular, making their separation and precision placement in the field difficult. Additionally, seeds require protection from pests and pathogens. Seed coating is used to allow mechanical sowing in precise patterns. This achieves uniformity of plant spacing and provides carriers for plant protection agents. Seeds may be both pelleted and film coated. Pelleting is defined as the deposition of a layer of inert material that transforms the original shape and size of the seed. The shape is changed to spherical with increased weight and improved opportunities for precision placement. Film coating retains the original shape and size of the seed with minimal increase in weight. Since Brassica seeds are naturally spherical, film coating is more frequently used. Coatings may contain polymers, pesticides, biological agents such as bacteria, coloured markers or dyes and other additives.