Use of Flash-Flaming Technology to Improve Seed Handling and Delivery of Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata)

Ecological restoration of rangelands using wild-collected seeds can be challenging due to low seed quality, inconvenient anatomy, and poor plant establishment. In North America, the half-shrub winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) is a valuable protein-rich forage for wildlife livestock. Seeds this species are contained in one-seeded fruits enclosed four fluffy, silky bracts. While removed from bracts, it not recommended as bracts thought help protect aid germination seedling growth. However, make difficult incorporate within mix because they prevent flowing through mechanized seeders. The anatomy fruit also makes treat with external seed-coating materials that may direct seeding efforts. We tested use recently developed flash-flaming technique combination coating improve flowability fruits. Our results indicate flash flaming reduce appendages on fruits, which decreased volume by up 46% without impacting germination. Flash possible polymer exterior found combined improved measured standard laboratory tests delivering broadcast seeder rangeland drill. These plus provides new technology will allow treating planting degraded rangelands.