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Boise Aquatic Sciences Lab (208) 373-4340 |
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Grassland, Shrubland and Desert Ecosystem Research ProgramJoint Fire Science Program: Equipment and Strategies to Enhance the Post-wildfire Establishment and Persistence of Great Basin Native Plants
Seed Drills |
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With recent drives to not only include native species,
but seed greater diversities of grasses, shrubs, and forbs in
post-wildfire restoration efforts, there's a need for seeding
equipment that is capable of simultaneously seeding seeds of various
size and shape and with many different types of appendages. For example, small seeds often must be placed on the soil, and pressed, but not buried, into the soil surface. These small seeds are more successful when broadcasted. Larger seeds should be covered with soil and therefore do best when placed in a furrow created by a disk. |
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Modified Rangeland Drill
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For many years, land managers have used rangeland
drills for post-wildfire revegetation efforts. Such drills have
been successful at effectively establishing a few species, often
introduced cultivars selected for reliable establishment, fast growth,
and palatability for livestock. This drill is durable and extremely rugged, however the traditional rangeland drill must be modified to accommodate more complex seedings. Seed tubes can be pulled from the disk assembly to allow seeds to fall on the soil surface rather than into a furrow, but they are not pressed into the soil, and may be buried by soil cast from the adjacent disks. The addition of three seed boxes allows for broadcast species to be spread. |
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| Left: Drilled species are placed as the disks create furrows, the chains place some soil over the seeds. Right: Every other disk is lifted to allow areas for the broadcast species to be dropped. | Furrows from the modified rangeland drill. | |
Minimum-till Drill
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This newer minimum-till drill is a more complex piece of
equipment, but is designed to handle seeds with various shapes and
sizes, thus allowing a more diverse mix of species to be seeded. The hydraulic system maintains consistent seeding depths. Interchangeable drilling disks and brillion cultipackers allow for greater versatility for various seed mixes, including simultaneous seedings of drilled and broadcast species. Less surface disturbance may be beneficial in conserving bilogical soil crusts and residual natives. |
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| Left: The hydraulic tire/drill creates a furrow for the drilled species which is set by a press wheel, then a chain. Right: Brillion wheels press broadcast species into the soil. | Furrows and brillion tracks left from the minimum-till drill. | |
USDA Forest Service - RMRS - Boise Aquatic Sciences
Lab
Last Modified:
Wednesday, 24 September 2008 at 12:19:36 EDT