Priming and Pelleting Native Boreal Seed for Land Reclamation

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In light of stringent regulatory standards and high costs of reclamation operations, the oil and gas (O&G)**industry is motivated to innovate and introduce technologies that optimize the use of boreal seeds. The Boreal**Research Institute proposes to develop and prototype two integrated technologies (priming and pelleting of**native seeds) to enable commercial-scale direct seeding of native boreal species in forest reclamation**operations. Seed priming is a method by which seeds are stimulated to imbibe water such that the metabolic**processes of germination begin. Seed pelleting is a technique by which seeds are encased in a coating. For**agronomic crops, where this practice is widely applied, the results are faster production and higher yields.**Unlike many agricultural plant species, the majority of boreal native plant seeds are very small and many**undergo dormancy after maturation. Seed dormancy is often overcome by stratification and/or scarification**pretreatments. Although stratified seeds cannot be pelleted because they will lose viability quickly, seed**priming in combination with pelleting may be an alternative for native boreal seeds as priming will awaken the**seed but hold it in a 'pre-germinated' state until re-moistened.**To date, no known research has focused on coupling priming of native seed and pelleting. The objective of this**study is to assess germination and emergence of boreal native species in response to a combination of seed**priming and pelleting treatments. The project combines laboratory and greenhouse studies to develop priming**and pelleting methods and techniques specific to each of the priority native boreal species.**The combination of priming and pelleting has potential to 1) deploy seeds of uniform germination and**emergence and 2) achieve faster, more complete vegetative cover which, in turn, provides early erosion control**and the creation of micro-sites. Priming and pelleting, when prototyped and tested for use in forest reclamation,**will result in a new, versatile tool for industry and SMEs.