| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon1

IPPS 18th Annual Conference, Saint Ives

Pelleting and associated technologies to enhance seed sowing and germination

1mm

Luke Solomon, Sappi Forests

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon2

How much seed does Sappi sow?

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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Mill

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EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon3

• 150 seed orchards

• 370 hectares

• 24 species

Seed orchard area

Total seed sales

Acacia Eucalyptus Pinus

Where does Sappi’s seed come from?

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon4

Where do we sow our seed?

• Sappi seedling nurseries:

• Ngodwana Nursery: 17.5 million

seedlings a year

• (60% eucalypt, 40% pine)

• Richmond Nursery: 16.5 million

seedlings a year

• (close to 100% eucalypt)

• 34 million seedlings annually

Ngodwana

seedling

nursery

Richmond

seedling

nursery

Shaw

Research

Centre

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon5

How does Sappi sow its seed?

Seed sower Fill trays Remove excess media

DibbleSow seedWater trays

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon6

How does Sappi sow its seed?

Growth Dispatch

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon7

What are the challenges of working with seed?1. Variable germination success in the nursery

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Germination success of 100 batches of E. dunnii

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon8

1. Variable germination success in the nursery2. Variable speed of germination (seedling vigour)

What are the challenges of working with seed?

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon9

Pricking-in

What are the challenges of working with seed?1. Variable germination success in the nursery2. Variable speed of germination (seedling vigour)3. Variable distribution of seedlings (small seeds)

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Number of seedlings per cavity

Seedling distribution within a single tray

Multiple sowing

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon10

Pelleting for improved sowing

Pelleting Drying

1 mm

‘Eucalyptus seed is small and irregularly shaped, making it challenging to sow. Pelleting transforms seed into uniform, spherical particles with

increased size by adding inert material around the seed.’

Final Product

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon11

Time

Pelleting for improved sowing

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon12

Cav

itie

s p

er

Sap

pi 4

9 t

ray

• Pelleted seed:• Sown 49 pellets per tray• Average 37 seedlings total (75%)• 15 empty cavities to be filled

• Raw seed:• Sown 65 seeds per tray (target 59)• Average 54 seedlings total (83%)• 13 seedlings to be pricked out, 10

empty cavities to be filled (left overs)

Seedlings per cavity

Pelleted SeedRaw Seed

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Pelleting for improved sowing

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon13

Pelleted Seed Raw Seed

• Pelleted seed – need to prick in from outside tray, raw seed within tray

• Pellets – no oversow, no waste, consistent

• Prime then pellet?

Pelleting for improved sowing

Single seedling

Two seedlings

Three seedlings

Empty cavity

Seedling distribution in tray:

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon14

Priming for improved germination

‘Priming is the process of controlling the hydration level within

seeds to encourage all seedlings to emerge quickly and simultaneously, thereby improving nursery performance’

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon15

Time

Priming for improved germination

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon16

0 1 2

3 4 ‘Germination is associated with emergence of the radicle through the seed coat. Broadly, a germinated seed will develop into a satisfactory plant under favourable conditions’

Priming for improved germination

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon17

Priming for improved germination

Seed priming has the potential to decrease time required for germination, increase plant uniformity and enhance robustness to germination environment

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon18

Example: produce 40 million seedlings with:

Gain 14.7%Gain 12.8%Gain 11.7%

Increased gain

What is the impact of improved seed use efficiency?

| Seed pelleting and associated technologies | IPPS Conference | Luke Solomon19

Than

k Yo

u

Sthembiso Khoza- seed sales

Nonkululeko Majola- seed testing

Lelethu Sinuka- CP seed

High quality,

seedsgeneticallyimproved