The Benefits of Using Coated Seed
Coated seed increases the bulk density of the finished product. This benefits many seeding applications, from hand spreading to aerial seeding, resulting in greater accuracy of the drop, and reduction of wind drift. As the seed reaches the ground, the increased density also increases the likelihood of the seed making the necessary contact with soil, where lighter seed may not have the velocity to bypass other plant material and surface debris.
Seed-to-Soil Contact: Once on the ground, the benefits of the coating material continue. Coated seed has a much greater surface area than uncoated seed which greatly increases seed to soil contact, and therefore increases that seeds opportunity for establishment.
Moisture Wicking: Another favorable property of the coating material we use is that it is naturally hygroscopic, in other words its capillary action wicks in moisture. This absorbent property softens the seed and provides a more consistent level of moisture for germination. With the neutral Ph level and water-holding capacity of our coating, coated grass seed is good insurance for establishing a healthy crop.
NCO Coated seed is OMRI Approved.
Coating Advantages for Legumes
Nitrogen
In almost every scenario where legumes are used – whether for forage production, cover crops, wildlife, or pollinators - their maximum potential is directly related to their uptake of nitrogen. Given legumes ability to capture and utilize nitrogen freely from the atmosphere, it is essential that legumes are planted in a way which maximizes their ability to fixate nitrogen through nodulation. Nodulation requires the presence of a healthy population of rhizobium to infect the root hairs.
Lots of Live Rhizobium
The Nitro-Coat® coating process, combined with very high quality inoculants, allows each seed to establish itself with a massive population of live rhizobium ready to colonize the developing root system.
More Biomass Cover Crops
The amount of nitrogen benefit from a cover crop is directly proportional to the plants ability to maximize nitrogen fixing nodules in its root system and generate abundant nitrogen-rich biomass. It is critical in these application for each legume seed to begin with a high population of live rhizobium ready to go to work. This converts to hundreds of pounds of atmospheric nitrogen fixed per acre, as compared to raw or poorly inoculated seed.
This is an excerpt from our Cover Crop and Forage Guide. Download the full document here.
