PLANTING WITH A PNEUMATIC GUN
In order to achieve efficient afforestation/ reforestation that requires minimal human labor and enables afforestation of inaccessible areas at minimal costs, Herbafarm-magnolija Ltd. has developed an innovative product – the afforestation/ reforestation gun, or a pneumatic seed sowing gun.
PNEUMATIC SEED SOWING
Our goal is to simplify seed sowing and make it resistant to climate change. With pneumatic sowing, we have achieved seed savings, because a larger area can be covered using the same amount of seed. Significant cost reduction is also achieved due to time savings related to reduced labor requirements.
Mechanical seed sowing methods (pneumatic or mechanical seed sowing) incorporate seeds into the soil at the appropriate depth, increasing seed germination success and, consequently, afforestation. Considering that this is pneumatic sowing on relatively heavy soil (dry soil), the seed ball must be resistant to high pressures.Top of Form In addition to improving afforestation success, seed savings are significant in this case – leading to substantial financial gains and reduced labor costs.
The seed balls are propelled from a pneumatic gun at an adjusted gas pressure to penetrate the soil to a depth of 2 cm, ensuring that the seed ball remains successfully in the place it was fired to and establishes firm contact with the surrounding soil, which is a prerequisite for successful seed germination.
In our quest to find a solution for ensuring safe seed germination, protection against diseases, and the provision of an initial moisture reserve, we have developed seed coating with protective layers tailored to the needs of our customers. We have achieved an effective solution for seed survival and adaptation to climate change by incorporating mechanisms for seed protection and development, as well as enabling water storage to bridge dry periods during germination. A complete ability to survive and grow with deep vertical root systems has been embedded into the seed matrix.
Afforestation/ Reforestation Procedure by Using a Pneumatic Gun
Seed balls containing nutrients and seeds of the plant used for afforestation are packaged in bags to ensure stable storage and transportation conditions, similar to those during production. To control planting distribution and monitor germination, we can add rapeseed seeds to the seed balls during production. It becomes highly visible when it grows to a height of approximately 40 cm and takes on a yellow color. It is an annual plant, so it won’t spread across the area, and when it decomposes, its degraded parts will provide nutrients to the afforestation plant.
The gun fires seed balls into the soil, which penetrate up to 2 cm into the ground. Then, the seed ball is securely anchored in the soil and cannot roll to an unwanted location, ensuring that the seed establishes a connection with the soil. The yellow flowers of rapeseed serve as indicators of the afforestation effort and the distribution of seed sowing on the ground. They make it easier to locate the germinated seedlings.
The limiting factors for the speed of seed ball firing and the quantity of seed balls are not the issue; instead, it depends on the area’s slope, rockiness, and overall accessibility.
