# Presentation: 072712

- Seed Quality   Seeding Rates

- Drill Calibration

## SOME IMPORTANT PLANT MATERIALS DEFINITIONS

**SOME IMPORTANT PLANT MATERIALS DEFINITIONS**

-  First -

## 1. Known genetic source and identity and seed origin

**2. Known genetic purity**
**3. Known germinating ability**
**4. Known presence or absence of other crop seed, weed seed, and inert matter**
**5. Known presence or absence of certain seed-borne diseases**
**6. Free of noxious weeds**

**Certified Seed - high-quality seed with superior production potential:**

## accurate record keeping

**field and seed cleaning facility inspections**
**seed testing by the certifying agency**

**The certification process is accomplished by:**

**Certifying agencies:**
**Idaho Crop Improvement ****	****Association**
**Utah Crop Improvement Association**
**Nevada Dept. of Agriculture**

## Common Seed - Non-certified seed.  May be a named variety but not grown under certification program.  Seed that cannot be identified as a variety. 

## Classes of Seed

**Foundation seed** -	progeny of Breeder seed that is handled to    maintain specific identity and purity.

**Classes of Seed**

## Classes of Seed (continued)

- 	the progeny of Foundation seed
**Certified seed** -
-  the progeny of Breeder, Foundation, or Registered seed

**Classes of Seed**** ****(continued)**

## Release Alternatives

**Source Identified** -
- natural stands, seed fields, or orchards
- no selection or testing of the population
**Selected** -
-  progeny of rigidly selected parentage
-  has promise but no proof of superiority

**Release Alternatives**

## Release Alternatives (continued)

-  testing for more than 1 generation
-  multiple sites to verify performance
-  heritability of desirable traits
-  proven genetic superiority or distinctive traits
**Cultivar** -
- testing greater than 2 generations
- well-known range of adaptation
- clearly documented performance/characteristics
- demonstrated heritability traits
- superior performance

**Release Alternatives (continued)**

## Cultivars (varieties)

- Pre-Variety Release Alternatives

## SEED TAGS

- 2) Lot number
- 3) Origin
- 4) Net weight
- 5) Percent pure seed
- 6) Percent germination and	                   date of test

**SEED TAGS**

## SEED TAGS (continued)

- 	8) Percent other crop seed
- 	9) Percent weed seeds
- 10) Name of restricted noxious 			 seed (# per pound of seed)
- 11) **Prohibited noxious seeds are     ****	****	****  not allowed.**
- 	12) Name and address of company 		  responsible for analysis 				 	(seller)

**SEED TAGS ****(continued)**

## Slide 13

## Seed Quality

**Seed lots contain:**
**inert material**
**undesirable seeds**
**immature or injured seeds**

**Seed Quality**

## Seed Quality

**genetic and mechanical purity **
**varietal identity for a uniform seeding **
**minimizes introducing weed seed.**

**Seed Quality**

## Certified Seed

- Purity expresses:
- composition of the seed lot
- degree of contamination by unwanted components

## A purity test separates:

**inert matter (plant parts, dirt, damaged seed)**
**other crop seed (normally grown crops, **_**<**_** 5 percent)**
**weed seed - common and restricted (number per pound of seed)**
** **{0.05 – 0.5 %}

**A purity test ****separates:**

## Germination test:

**Determines capability of the seed lot:**
** ****to initiate growth by the embryo**
** ****to develop a young plant by seed**
**Tests are conducted under controlled conditions**
**Association of Official Seed Analysts**

## Germination test:

**do not germinate during test**
**impermeable seed coat (many legumes and shrubs)**
**may or may not germinate in the field**

**Germination test:**

## Pure Live Seed

**PLS is the percentage of pure seed that will germinate**
**Provides a common basis for comparing seed lots**

**Pure Live Seed**

## Example:

- 'Goldar' bluebunch wheatgrass - 99.01% purity, 	87% germination
- 		percent PLS = _99.01 x 87_
- 			         		    100
- 		percent PLS = 86.13

## Comparing seed costs:

- Alfalfa seed @ $.90 per pound:
- Purity = 99.5%  Germ. = 90%
- 		    **$ per pound PLS = **_**$.90**_
**	****	****	****	****	****	****    ****	**** ****.8955**
- 		    **$ per pound PLS = ****  ****$1.01**

-  **$ per pound PLS = **_**price per pound**_**	****	****	****	****	****   percent PLS**

## Comparing seed costs:

-  Purity = 93.0%  Germ. = 60%
- 		    **$ per pound PLS = **_**$.70**_
**	****	****	****	****	****    ****	****    ****	**** ****.5588**
- 		    **$ per pound PLS = ****  ****$1.25**
**$.70 bulk = $1.25 PLS > $.90 bulk = $1.01 PLS**

## Adjusting Seeding Rates

- rate at which the drill will be set
**Pounds bulk seeding rate per acre = **
_**Pounds PLS recommended rate per acre**_
**	****	****percent PLS**

**Adjusting Seeding Rates**

## Adjusting Seeding Rates

- NRCS recommended seeding rate:
- ‘Magnar' basin wildrye
- 7 pounds PLS per acre*
- 80 percent PLS
- *See Technical Note No. 24
**  **

**Adjusting Seeding Rates**

## What is the bulk rate to seed the recommended PLS rate?

_**7 pounds PLS recommended rate per acre**_
**	****	****	****	****0.80 PLS**
**	****	****	****	****= 8.75 bulk # per acre**

## Developing Seed Mixes

- 1)	Site Inventory
- 		Vegetation (pre-disturb)
- 		Soils
- 		Climatic conditions
- 2)	Goals or Objectives
- 3)	Seed mix to meet goals

## Loamy, 16-22 inch ppt.

- Mountain big sagebrush -
- Idaho Fescue
- (refer to site description to determine species and percentages)

## Seeding Rates for Mixtures

**Percent desired in mix**
** ****X**
** ****Pounds PLS recommended per acre**
** ****= pounds PLS mix per acre**

**Seeding Rates for Mixtures**

## Species			Mix %	Full Rate	#PLS/ac 						#PLS/ac	(mix)

- Idaho fescue		  45		    4		 1.8
- Bluebunch w.g.		  20		    7		 1.4
- Big bluegrass		  15		    2		 0.3
- Slender wheatgrass	  10		    6		 0.6
- _Lewis flax__	__	__	__  10__	__	__    4__	__	__ 0.4_
- Total				100				 4.5
- Mountain big sage 0.025 # PLS/ac broadcast
- Full rate x Mix % = #PLS/ac mix
- See Plant Materials Technical Note 24

## Full seeding rate not listed?

- <500,000 seeds/lb	20-30 seeds per ft2
- >500,000 seeds/lb	40-50 seeds per ft2
- Example:
- Pearly everlasting (*Anaphalis margaritacea*)
- 8,200,000 seeds per pound
- 45 seeds/ft2 x 43,560 ft2 /ac = 1,960,200 PLS 							seeds/ac
- _1,960,200_ = 0.24 #PLS/ac full seeding rate
-     8,200,000

## Multiply pounds bulk seed per acre for each species by acres to be seeded for total bulk seed required

- Double rates if broadcast seeding!!

## MIXING SEED WITH RICE HULLS

**Why use rice hulls?**
-   keeps grass-legume-forb seed 			mixtures in constant proportion
-   prevents separation during drilling

**MIXING SEED WITH RICE HULLS**

## Why use rice hulls?

- allows use of a regular grain drill because the mixture feeds like barley

**Why use rice hulls?**

## Rice hulls

** ****Recommend #1 grade**
-  Function as a cup to hold different 	sized seeds together
-  Broken hulls will reduce 		  	cupping action

**Rice hulls**

## Drill Calibration

## 1.	Compute area of 100 foot test run 	based upon drill width

- _Drill width (feet) X 100 feet_ = test run  ac.  	   43,560 ft2/ac.
- Example:	7 foot wide drill
- 		_7 feet X 100 feet_ = 0.016 acre
- 			43,560

**Test Drill Calibration (Seed Weight - Distance Method)**

## test run area (acres) x bulk seeding rate

- Example:
- 	fourwing			2.28 pounds
- 	flax		  	  	1.00
- 	globemallow		0.61
- 	bluebunch		3.52
- 	bottlebrush		2.17
- 	Indian ricegrass	2.08
- 	_Rice hulls__	__	__4.74_
- 	Total			16.40  pounds
- 0.016 ac X 16.4 pounds = 0.26 pounds seed mix for test run

- 2.	Calculate amount of bulk seed and rice 	hulls for test run

## Example:

**	****# of spouts on drill**
- _0.26 # mix for test run_ =0.0325 # per spout
-           8 spouts

- 3.	Determine amount of seed that will be delivered through each drill spout during the test run

## Example:

- 0.0325 pounds X 454 grams/pound = 14.76 grams per spout per 100 foot test run

- Since a small amount of seed is being weighed, it is desirable to convert this amount to grams

## 5. Seed for at least 6 feet before coming to first stake:

-  Stop and remove drill spouts from disks
- Place containers under spouts to catch all seed
- Drive at a constant speed over the measured distance

- 	4. Measure and stake off 100 		feet.

## 7.	Check weight of delivered seed with desired amount and make necessary adjustments in drill settings

- 8.	When within 10 percent of desired rate, check results with a second trial at the same setting

- 	6.	Weigh seed from each spout

## 10.	Record drill settings for future reference.

- 9.   Seed 1 acre or more and check the quantity of seed and rice hulls used against the acreage and recommended rate.

## Rice hull mixtures work better in drills with metal flutes.  

-  Plastic flutes create static electricity causing seed/rice hull mixtures to plug.
- Agitators aid in maintaining a constant flow
- Awn-tipped seed will cause bridging - increase rice hulls to 65 - 70 percent of mixture

**Other Considerations**

## Questions ?

**Questions ?**