Aerial-seeding
Encyclopedia
Aerial seeding is a technique of sowing seed
s by spraying them through aerial mechanical means such as an aircraft
.
The technique is one of the several broadcast seeding
techniques. This technique is usually used to grow grass
es, legumes or other suitable soil binding plants
. The process is applied to increase vegetative cover
over barren lands like ravines
or burnt sites, where large geographical area is involved. The purpose of the technique is soil conservation
by reducing soil erosion
in extremely large area within lesser period. It is typically used where soil erosion hazards are high and native plant seed bank is destroyed by temperature or washed away by water resulting into complete denudation
of top soil. This is the most effective technique for geographically inaccessible areas. Seed is dropped from fixed-wing aircraft
or helicopter
directly on the soil from a reasonable altitude.
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s by spraying them through aerial mechanical means such as an aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
.
The technique is one of the several broadcast seeding
Broadcast seeding
In agriculture, gardening, and forestry, broadcast seeding is a method of seeding that involves scattering seed, by hand or mechanically, over a relatively large area...
techniques. This technique is usually used to grow grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es, legumes or other suitable soil binding plants
Cover crop
Cover crops are crops planted primarily to manage soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife in agroecosystems , ecological systems managed and largely shaped by humans across a range of intensities to produce food, feed, or fiber.Cover crops are of...
. The process is applied to increase vegetative cover
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
over barren lands like ravines
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
or burnt sites, where large geographical area is involved. The purpose of the technique is soil conservation
Soil conservation
Soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the Earth’s surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination...
by reducing soil erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
in extremely large area within lesser period. It is typically used where soil erosion hazards are high and native plant seed bank is destroyed by temperature or washed away by water resulting into complete denudation
Soils retrogression and degradation
Soil retrogression and degradation are two regressive evolution processes associated with the loss of equilibrium of a stable soil. Retrogression is primarily due to erosion and corresponds to a phenomenon where succession reverts back to pioneer conditions . Degradation is an evolution,...
of top soil. This is the most effective technique for geographically inaccessible areas. Seed is dropped from fixed-wing aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
or helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
directly on the soil from a reasonable altitude.
External links
- US Fish & Wildlife on aerial seeding
- Ohio State University paper on aerial wheat seeding
- "Bombing The Desert With Seed." Popular Mechanics, October 1947, p.165-168, detailed article on post WW2 aerial seeding.