Assessing the Applicability of Seed Pelleting Technology for Milkweed Establishment

Abstract

The restoration of plant life in degraded environments is hindered by animal, particularly bird, feeding upon the seeds and, when not buried, surface exposure to the elements. Seed pelleting into “seedballs” is a potential means to address this problem. In the process of pelleting seeds are encased in a shell composed of clay and vermicompost that may also include organic polymers, termed hydrogels, to help retain water. For this study, we are assessing the effects that seedballs have on germination. Plots at three locations in Sonoma County, including two sites on the Sonoma State campus, were spotted with naked seeds and seedballs containing 0.5 g, 1.0 g or no hydrogel. Findings from this study will inform local restoration programs on the effectiveness of using seedballs.

Results

Key Terms: Narrow milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, pollinator, Bulbs Bliss, SSU Butterfly Garden, microbes, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, disturbance