A seedling package includes a seedling including a root structure in soil and a shoot structure protruding from the soil and a seedling-retainer band. The seedling-retainer band includes a first sheet arranged to partially surround a first side of the root structure of the seedling and a second sheet arranged to partially surround an opposite second side of the root structure of the seedling.

A degradable aroma product with seeds wrapped therein includes plant seeds and growth carriers coated or mixed with plant nutrients and aromatizers. The degradable aroma product may be in the form of an aroma card with the growth carriers being made of paper pulp, or alternatively, in the form of an aroma sachet with the plant seeds and the growth carriers or the aroma card wrapped in a degradable packaging bag. When the degradable aroma product has been used over a period of time and no longer produces fragrance, it can be directly buried in soil without forming any pollutant and accordingly, meets the requirement of plastic and waste reduction. Further, with the plant nutrients, the plant seeds can grow into trees, flowers or fruits more easily to enable sustainable development of healthy circle of life (i.e. the product design concept of cradle-to-cradle), carbon reduction and environmental protection.

Disclosed is a biomechanical measuring technical method for maize seed radicle and coleorhiza separation, which is characterized by comprising the following operations: (1) seed sample preparation; (2) anterior tissue cutting; (3) radicle and coleorhiza separation; (4) coleorhiza sample acquisition; (5) coleorhiza sample fixation; (6) puncture force measurement; (7) information storage and analysis. The operation (3) includes the development of a maize radicle and coleorhiza separation device, and the operation (5) includes the development of a maize coleorhiza sample carrier. The present disclosure has the beneficial effects of providing direct biomechanical evidence for the research on the coleorhiza weakening regulation and control mechanism of the maize seed germination, and simultaneously providing reference for measuring the coleorhiza weakening biological force of the gramineous plant seeds.

A powdered lubricant composition that minimizes fugitive dust and a method of treating seeds with dry lubricant that minimizes fugitive dust. Addition of oil powder to dry lubricants is found to minimize fugitive dust created during the application of the dry lubricant. Mica coated titanium dioxide is an ideal dry lubricant for combining with oil powder.

A composite material for food contact applications includes an absorbent layer and a non-absorbent layer, the absorbent layer having a textured surface for absorbing and trapping liquids, for example, oil, grease, or water, and the non-absorbent layer having an oleophobic surface that acts as an oil and grease specific liquid barrier. The material further includes one or more lamination layers. The lamination layer acts as a general liquid barrier between the absorbent layer and non-absorbent layer. This additional liquid barrier enhances the liquid repelling effect of the non-absorbent layer to more effectively trap liquids in the absorbent layer, thereby preventing liquids from seeping through the material onto an external surface.

A process for creating a shaped seed wafer is described. Ingredients for a growth medium are selected and mixed together. Pulverized remains or cremains from a pet or human are added. One or more varieties of perennial and/or annual seeds are added to the mixture. Water may be added during processing to get the mixture to stick together. The mixture with seeds is sheeted and shaped into a silhouette shape with a cutting tool before drying the shape to a final product. The product is a memorial flower or plant generating seed wafer that may be packaged and distributed for placing and germinating of plants at a desired location in memory of the deceased.

The invention provides a process for the preparation of a seed support that comprises a biodegradable polymer film having a plurality of seeds at least partially embedded therein, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a hydrophobic release liner (18); (b) applying a coating of an aqueous dispersion or solution comprising a biodegradable polymer on the hydrophobic release liner (18), wherein the dispersion or solution has a viscosity of from 2000 to 16000 mPa.Math.s and a water content of from 58% to 90% by weight of the coating; (c) depositing a plurality of seeds onto the coating so that the seeds become at least partially embedded in the coating; (d) drying the coating to give a final water content of 1.5% to 15% by weight and thereby form the biodegradable polymer film; and (e) detaching the hydrophobic release liner from the biodegradable polymer film to give the seed support.

A garden seed planter that displays a color for identifying the type of garden product that will be produced by a plant from a seed contained in a starch capsule of the garden seed planter. In a preferred lollipop form embodiment at least a portion of the garden seed planter starch capsule has a colored coating that is substantially the same color as the garden product produced by the plant to be grown from the seed, and there is a planter stake attached to the seed capsule having a portion that also displays substantially the same color as the garden product.

A high throughput system for sorting a plurality of different small object types into a plurality of cells of a plurality of small object cassettes is provided. The system comprises: at least one small object cassette having a plurality of small object cells; an automated conveyor system for transporting the cassette(s) from a loading location to a unloading location on the conveyor system; at least one cassette filling station disposed over the conveyor system such that the conveyor system extends under a small object distribution subsystem of each respective cassette filling station; and a computer based central control system structured and operable to control various operations of the conveyor system and each cassette filling station.

Processes for direct seeding of guayule seeds into a field and fields produced by the processes. According to these direct seeding processes, treated guayule seeds are mixed with a seed starting mixture to produce a planting mixture that is applied to exposed soil of a field. The applied planting mixture is then pressed or compressed which facilitates germination of the guayule seeds into seedlings.