Seed coating as a technique for the restoration of degraded soils

Abstract

The recovery of degraded soils is a strategy of vital importance for the restoration of ecosystems. The effect of two adherents (molasses and gum arabic) for seed cover of four native herbaceous species with restoration potential of degraded soils, and its effect on germination, was evaluated as a technique for the restoration of degraded soils in the La Primavera Forest. To form pellets of different sizes, kaolin was used as binder, molasses, gum arabic as adherents and horse manure as fertilizer in seeds of: Aristida appressa and Paspalum notatum, Chamaecrista rotundifolia and Leucaena leucocephala. In addition, one of the mixtures was tested to cover the seeds on germination. Pellets of five sizes were obtained: 2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm. The 12 mm pellets with the adherents incorporated the largest amount of seeds. The germination was not inhibited by the effect of the mixtures, although it was low due to the dormancy of the seeds. The coating of seeds could be a solution to achieve the restoration of degraded soils of the La Primavera Forest. In addition, the materials used to form the pellets are easy to obtain and inexpensive.