The advantage of seed coating is that it ensures a smoother seed surface and less dust formation from the seed, which results in improved machine sowability. A colour coating also makes the seed more visible in the soil and thus simplifies handling. In some cases, however, seeds are simply so fine that they cannot otherwise be sown singly - fennel, for example.
Coatings are therefore not uncommon in agriculture; they usually consist of biochar, water-binding ingredients and possibly colourants.
About AlgenSaat
The agricultural and recycling specialist Schierbecker and the algae experts at Kiel University are jointly developing prototypes of various seed coatings with added algae. In the course of the project, suitable species, layer thicknesses and algae varieties will be analysed for germination rate, vigour and nutrient profile.
