DOI: 10.5061/dryad.m905qfv7h
title: Data from: putting seed traits into pellets: using seed mass data to improve seed encapsulation technology for native plant revegetation

description: Poor seedling emergence often limits the success of direct seeding in
 ecological restoration. New techniques for maximising seed use efficiency
 and seedling emergence are needed to help meet global targets for nature
 repair in the UN Decade on Restoration. Extruded pellets are widely used
 in agriculture and represent a promising advancement in seed-based
 restoration. However, extruded pellets must be optimised for diverse
 suites of native species that possess a range of seed sizes and
 morphotypes. We investigated how seed mass affects the performance of
 native plant seeds (total % seedling emergence) when encapsulated in
 extruded pellets designed for revegetation. Two glasshouse trials were
 undertaken using seeds from 30 native Australian plant species. In trial
 1, we encapsulated seeds in the centre of pellets and determined the
 relationship between seed mass and emergence. In trial 2, we encapsulated
 seeds nearer the periphery of pellets and determined whether the position
 of seeds (central vs peripheral) affected emergence for a subset of ten
 small-seeded species. In both trials, emergence from pellets was compared
 to an optimal, bare-seeded control to identify any barriers to seed
 encapsulation under well-watered conditions.  In trial 1, when
 seeds were centrally-encapsulated, emergence was generally higher for
 bare-seeded controls relative to pelleted seeds. However, seed mass
 predicted emergence when seeds were encapsulated in the pellet centre (R2
 = 0.32, p = 0.002), such that larger-seeded species tended to have higher
 emergence than smaller-seeded species. In trial 2, encapsulating seeds
 nearer the pellet periphery (relative to the centre) resulted in an
 average 28-fold increase in emergence for all ten small-seeded species.
 For half of the small-seeded species trialled, emergence from the pellet
 periphery was equivalent to that of bare-seeded controls. Synthesis and
 applications: Collectively, our results demonstrate: (1) a positive
 relationship between seed mass and emergence under central-encapsulation,
 and (2) that emergence can be significantly improved for small-seeded
 species when seeds are positioned nearer the pellet periphery. Translation
 of these findings into practice can help optimise emergence outcomes for
 native species with different sized seeds and nuanced germination
 requirements.
description: # Putting seed traits into pellets: Using seed mass data to improve seed
 encapsulation technology for native plant revegetation
 ## Description of the data
 and file structure This excel file contains all emergence data for the
 manuscript titled:   **Putting seed traits into pellets: using seed mass
 data to improve seed encapsulation technology for native plant
 revegetation** Paige E. Lieurance, Charlotte H. Mills, Sasha G. Tetu and
 Rachael V. Gallagher (2024)   TRIAL 1 (seeds centrally-encapsulated within
 extruded pellets): **SPECIES** = taxonomic name **TRAY_NO** = individual
 tray identifier (2 trays per species) **REP_TYPE** = pellet (central seed
 encapsulation) or bare seed (unencapsulated seed) **REP_POSITION** =
 position of replicate (pellet or bare seed) within tray **DATE_PLANTED** =
 date of sowing and watering **DATE_EMERGED** = date of emergence
 **EMERGED** = 1 (yes) or 0 (no)   TRIAL 2 (seeds peripherally-encapsulated
 within extruded pellets): **SPECIES** = taxonomic name **REP_TYPE** =
 pellet (peripheral seed encapsulation) **REP_POSITION** = position of
 replicate (pellet) within tray **DATE_PLANTED** = date of sowing and
 watering **DATE_EMERGED** = date of emergence **EMERGED** = 1 (yes) or 0
 (no)