Well-trained planting crews can easily plant 7,000 to 9,000 seedlings per day on an open, flat site. Again, the key to successful regeneration lies in the task of supervision. Machine planting permits the precise spacing of seedlings and planting depths. Higher rates of productivity. Easier to adjust the planting depth.
Some studies show a higher survival rate with machine planting vs. hand planting.
The planter cannot select specific microsites where the seedling may perform better. Planting spots may be overlooked. Seedlings may be planted incorrectly if the coulter depth and packing wheels are not inspected intermittently. The procedure involved in machine planting is rather simple. Depending on individual site characteristics, either hand or machine planting can be the most effective and efficient option of pine regeneration.