METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN ESTABLISHING OR RE-ESTABLISHING PLANT LIFE IN A LAND AREA

Abstract

An apparatus for use in establishing or re-establishing plant growth over a land area. The apparatus includes a supply of a growing medium and an arrangement including at least one delivery outlet for delivering the growing medium at spaced intervals from a height onto a soil surface of the land area. The growing medium contains seeds or is delivered in tandem with and on top of seeds deposited on the soil surface or deposited onto or adjacent to seeds or seedlings already deposited on the soil surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in establishing or re-establishing plant growth over a land area, the apparatus comprising: a supply of a growing medium and an arrangement comprising a delivery outlet for delivering the growing medium at spaced intervals from a height onto a soil surface of a land area, the growing medium comprising seeds or is delivered in tandem with and on top of seeds deposited on the soil surface or deposited onto or adjacent to seeds or seedlings already deposited on the soil surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seeds are contained in the growing medium prior to delivery of the growing medium onto the soil surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus: is configured to deposit the growing medium onto seeds on the soil surface; or is arranged to deliver the seeds onto the soil surface and subsequently to deliver the growing medium onto the seeds.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the growing medium comprises one or more of: a slurry; pellets; granules; a powder; and soil amendment, and/or germination/emergence enhancing products.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the growing medium comprises the slurry and the apparatus further comprising a mixer and/or an agitator for creating the slurry and/or maintaining the growing medium as the slurry in a reservoir.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the growing medium comprises at least one of: a proportion of waste material, one or more nutrients, elements, beneficial compounds, beneficial microbes, soil microbes, anti-stress agents, inorganic compounds, organic compounds, and soil microbtota; wherein the waste material comprises a proportion of a mineral caste from commercial or industrial processes; and the mineral waste comprises material from one or more of ore/mineral crushing, milling, and screening.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a delivery device for delivering growing medium to the delivery outlet via a conduit; wherein the delivery device comprises one or more of, or a combination of any two or more of: a pump, a hopper comprising a respective outlet, a gravity feed arrangement, an auger, a conveyor, a vibration screen, or a chute.

8. The apparatus of claim wherein: the delivery outlet is provided at a desired position above the soil surface; the apparatus further comprises a position adjuster for adjusting a height of the delivery outlet from the soil surface; the height of the delivery outlet from the soil surface is selected based on one or more of: plant species, seed type, travel velocity/speed, speed/velocity of a position mechanism, one or more growing medium properties, viscosity of the growing medium, one or more site soil and/or landform properties, ambient air temperature and/or ambient humidity, prevailing or predicted weather conditions; a traverser enabling lateral motion of the delivery outlet relative to a forward direction of travel of the delivery outlet; the traverser comprising a mechanism aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel which allows pats of the growing medium to be deposited anywhere within lateral width limits; the traverser comprising a slider mechanism comprising a carriage for moving/positioning the delivery outlet; the traverser is driven via a drive means; and at least one position of the delivery outlet is limited by a limiting device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a pivot or rotation device allowing rotational motion of the delivery outlet and/or a conduit in fluid communication with the delivery outlet; wherein the pivot or rotation device enables decoupling of axial twist of a hose in fluid communication relative to the delivery outlet; and the motion of a traverser is provided by an electric motor or a hydraulic motor or driven by driving/trailing wheels of a vehicle conveying at least part of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second delivery outlet, wherein: the delivery outlet and the second delivery outlet e spaced with respect to one another, an outlet direction for dispensing the growing medium is controllable; the delivery outlet and the second, delivery outlet are coaxial or axially offset with respect to one another; and the delivery outlet is arranged to move relative to the second delivery outlet, or the delivery outlet and the second delivery outlet are arranged to move in concert with one another.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position of the delivery outlet optimized via position/location sensing algorithms.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a metering arrangement for metering delivery/deposition rate and/or volume of the growing medium; and a water supply to provide water to adjust consistency of the growing medium.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the deposition rate is achieved via a variable pump speed controlled by a stepper or servo motor; and the metering arrangement comprises a metering device for metering density of the seeds within the growing medium or independently deposited on the soil surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be mounted to a vehicle, is self-propelled, or is configured to be provided on or as a trailer for towing.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of: a slurry pump, a water pump, a mixer, and/or an agitator is powered by an on-board or external power supply, the external power supply coming from a power take off (PTO) or electric drive or hydraulic fluid flow or powered off driven/trailing wheel/track.

16. A method for use in seeding for establishing or re-establishing plant growth over a land area, the method comprising: supplying a growing medium to an outlet of a delivery apparatus, depositing at least a portion of the growing medium and seeds onto a soil surface or depositing the growing medium onto the seeds on the soil surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the growing medium comprises one or more of: topsoil, other organic or inorganic medium, waste material, and water.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising one or more of: depositing the growing medium containing the seeds or in tandem with dispensing the seeds onto the soil surface; depositing the seeds onto the soil surface and subsequently depositing the growing medium onto the seeds; premixing the growing medium as a slurry before dispensing, or mixing as a slurry while dispensing; delivering the growing medium to the outlet of the delivery device; providing the outlet at a preferred height above the soil surface; using a position mechanism to control lateral position of the outlet; metering delivery/deposition rate and/or volume of the growing medium and the seeds; metering density of the seeds within the growing medium; depositing the growing medium to form a pat on contact or after contact with the soil surface; providing the growing medium comprising microbes beneficial to seeds/plants; depositing the growing medium from a vehicle in motion; mixing and/or agitating at least part of the growing medium as a slurry in a storage container prior to depositing; adjusting consistency of the growing medium prior to delivery/depositing; controlling a vertical position of the outlet for delivering the growing medium as a slurry by height control means to control morphology of the resulting slurry deposition and optimize slurry-soil contact; limiting a position of the outlet by a limiting device; providing a second outlet spaced laterally with respect to the outlet; and providing the growing medium with soil amendment and germination/emergence enhancing products.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein: the slurry comprises a proportion of a waste material the waste material comprising one or more of: mineral waste from commercial or industrial processes; and material from one or more of ore or mineral crushing, milling and screening; and the delivery device one or more of or a combination of any two or more of: a pump, a hopper comprising the outlet, a gravity feed arrangement, an auger, a conveyor, a vibration screen, or a chute.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising delivering the growing medium by pumping the growing medium by use of a pump to the outlet via a conduit.

21. The method of claim 18, comprising: selecting or controlling a height of the outlet from the soil surface based on one or more of: plant species and seed type, travel velocity/speed, speed/velocity of the position mechanism, one or more growing medium properties, viscosity of the growing medium, one or more site soil and/or landform properties, ambient air temperature and/or ambient humidity prevailing or predicted weather conditions; and controlling lateral motion of the outlet relative to a forward direction of travel of the outlet.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein: when the outlet is moving, delivery of the growing medium is intermittent such that the pat is created spaced from a second pat on the soil surface; delivery of the growing medium is controlled in association with one to six degrees of freedom of motion of the outlet; a position of the outlet is controlled by the position mechanism that moves the outlet; the position mechanism comprises a traverser enabling lateral notion of the outlet relative to a forward direction of travel of the outlet; the traverser moves the outlet by a slider mechanism aligned perpendicular to the forward direction of travel which allows the growing medium to be deposited anywhere within lateral width limits of the traverser; the traverser comprises the slider mechanism allowing motion of a slider in either direction along a longitudinal extent of a slide bar; and depositing the growing medium containing the seeds is guided and/or controlled via external communication or predetermined guidance program.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein delivery of the growing medium onto the soil surface is synchronized to forward and/or lateral motion of the outlet.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein delivered/deposited the growing medium as slurry pats are between 5 mm and 12 mm thick on average.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0129] One or more embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:

[0130] FIG. 1 shows examples of known seeding options, such as manual and machine delivered broadcasting and precision placement.

[0131] FIG. 2 shows a chart of probability of emergence for Australian native seeds vs seed depth compared against varying concentrations of rock content.

[0132] FIG. 3 shows a chart of cumulative proportion of germinated seeds for each slurry mixture according to embodiments of the present invention relative to a control sample treatment for the combined proportion for plated samples under test.

[0133] FIGS. 4A to 4C show various features of an apparatus for depositing a growing medium and seeds according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0134] FIG. 4D shows examples of alternative arrangement of delivery outlets according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0135] FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a system and method for delivery of seeds and growing medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0136] FIG. 6 shows examples of growing medium slurry pats deposited on the ground surface.

[0137] FIGS. 7A and 7B show examples of seedlings emerging from the deposited pats of the growing medium at one month and six months respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0138] FIG. 1 provides, for background purposes, examples of seeding options, such as manual and machine delivered broadcasting and precision placement.

[0139] The chart (Tuley boxplot) of FIG. 2 shows predicted probability of emergence for Australian native seeds (Triodia pungens. T. pungens) vs seed depth at each of 7 experimental depths. The horizontal black band in each box plot represents the median prediction of the probability of emergence for each treatment. The lower and upper hinges represent the first and third quartile, respectively, whilst whiskers represent 1.5 times the interquartile range and outliers are represented by circles, Treatments are represented as seeds/florets-soil type e.g. seeds (S)florets (F) sown in soil sieved to 2 mm, 25 mm or left unsieved.

[0140] At shallow burial depths of <15 mm, rock content of the soil did not significantly affect emergence. However, strong evidence exists for a trend towards a reduction in emergence with increasing rock content in the soil when burying seeds to greater than or equal to 15 mm. When buried ≥15 mm, the probability that T. pungens seeds in soil sieved to 2 mm exhibit greater emergence than seeds in soil sieved to 25 mm, which also exhibit greater emergence than seeds in unsieved soil, is 0.87. This probability increases with increasing burial depth and the trend is not present when buried shallower than 15 mm. For 25 mm sieved and unsieved soils, burial to 30 mm or deeper yielded a predicted emergence probability of near zero (<0.006). In soil sieved to 2 mm, however, the predicted emergence was 0.026 and 0.016 when buried to 30 mm and 40 mm respectively, indicating that the, presence of rocks truncated the maximum emergence depth (FIG. 2).

[0141] It is to be appreciated that each of the embodiments is specifically described and that the present invention is not to be construed as being limited to any specific feature or element of any one of the embodiments. Neither is the present invention to be construed as being limited to any feature of a number of the embodiments or variations described in relation to the embodiments.

[0142] Triodia pungens seedling emergence in a test slurry mixture was comparable (10%) to the best performing burial depth in topsoil for Triodia pungens emergence (13%, 5 mm). Achieving a seedling emergence approaching that of seeds placed at the optimal burial depth shows that the concept of the pats is valid and viable.

[0143] The seed embryo is a critical organ for germination. Embryos of Triodia seeds, for example, are delicate and can be damaged/removed if knocked during any abrasive seed cleaning processes.

[0144] One or more examples of embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described.

[0145] A test arrangement was established for proving the efficacy of using one or more embodiments of the present invention. As a step to validating one or more embodiments of the present invention, seed germination testing was undertaken to deduce that delivery/deposition of seeds within a growing medium slurry reduce or avoid mechanical damage to the seed, and particularly the embryo.

[0146] By way of example, a vehicle (trailer) mounted apparatus extruded slurry pats of two mixtures: [0147] 50% waste and 50% topsoil blend (1 part waste; 1 part topsoil; 1 part water); and [0148] 100% topsoil (2 parts topsoil; 1 part water)

[0149] The aforementioned two mixtures were sieved to 2 mm before

[0150] Ten grams of Triodia pungens seeds cleaned from their encasing floret were added to 5 L of each slurry, The ratio of seeds to slurry mixture was selected to provide greater than 35 seeds per pat on average, representing favourable plant recruitment for restoration given a 13% emergence rate.

[0151] Ten pats per slurry mixture were deposited (e.g. by pump fed extrusion) from a delivery outlet and dropped into containers from a height of 450 mm. During the tests, approximately 200 L of the growing medium slurry was extruded per hour or roughly 10,000, 0.02 L pats/hour.

[0152] The growing medium containing the seeds were extruded as pats in cool dry conditions and immediately washed through a square meshed sieve stack containing sieve sizes of 1.7, 1.18, 0.85, and 0.355 mm. Seeds collected on the sieve mesh from each pat were assessed for damage under a microscope before being plated in 90 mm Petri dishes on a water agar medium. Three sub samples of 25 Triodia pungens seeds were not extruded and therefore provided a control sample also assessed for any seed damage under a microscope and plated on the water agar medium. All of the Petri dishes were cling wrapped and placed in a temperature-controlled incubator set to 30° C. and with a 12/12 hour light/dark cycle (30 μmol m−2 s−1, 400-700 nm, cool-white fluorescent light).

[0153] A one way analysis of variance showed no significant difference in the proportion of germinated seedlings in the control or the two slurry mixes, F(2,20)=2.46, p=110, at the 5% confidence level. Mean time to 95% germination for all treatments was between 8 and 11 days (Control 8-9 days, Topsoil only mix 8-9 days, waste-topsoil blended mix 10-11 days) (FIG. 3 showing a chart of cumulative proportion of germinated seeds for each slurry mixture relative to the control sample treatment for the combined proportion for plated samples under test).

[0154] Germination results indicate that there is likely no damage to the seeds induced by the extrusion process and that seeds remain germinable after extrusion.

[0155] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention enable seed metering and topsoil (with or without additional material, such as waste material) respreading.

[0156] Embodiments of the present invention provide for spatial control of seed or growing medium delivery/deposition to a site for (re)establishing plant growth. Placement of pats containing seeds can be anywhere on a 2D surface and can be automated.

[0157] Commercial and industrial earth moving vehicles, such as bulldozers are a typical means for carrying air seeding equipment. Air seeding equipment uses a flow of air to deliver seeds from one or more hoppers to prepared ground across mine site areas to be rehabilitated or restored. Tracked vehicles are preferred for working on steep slopes common to mine site restoration. The practice of deep ripping (to >400 mm) conflicts with the requirement for seeds to be buried shallow (<15 mm) in the soil surface in certain geographical locations (e.g. for climate and/or or soil types). Locating seed precisely between 5 to 10 mm in a soil surface with mounds and troughs, sometimes up to 1000 mm high and spaced 1000 mm apart, is an extremely difficult task. There is a perceived requirement by mine operators that a saw tooth structure should be present on restoration sites for benefits to slope stability via reduced erosion or increased plant establishment and health via water harvesting.

[0158] However, avoiding deep ripping avoids the need for expensive machinery and associated running costs and personnel time, and alleviates soil compaction by large, heavy vehicles travelling over the soil surface. Being able to deposit seeds directly onto the soil surface using one or more embodiments of the present invention can reduce overall restoration or re-vegetation costs.

[0159] Seeding is typically carried out before expected rainfall to improve the chance of seeds germinating. In practice, rainfall events can be unpredictable in particular geographic regions, such as Australia's North West/Pilbara. If seeding does not coincide with an adequate rainfall event, no matter the depth or soil rock content that an un-dormant seed is buried into, low germination or mortality of germinated seedlings will likely result. For this reason, it widely accepted that planting should preferably be finished before seasonal rains to ensure seeds can take advantage of any subsequent major rainfall events. However, watering of the deposited slurry containing the seeds can be carried out prior to rainfall to assist germination. For example, a water reservoir or container may be carried by the vehicle, or an additional supply of water (such as from a water bowser/cart) may be provided for watering the deposited slurry or pellets containing the seeds.

[0160] Embodiments of the present invention allow such seeding to be earlier than simple seed blowing/air-seeding given the encapsulation of the seeds within the growing medium, such as in a slurry or in pellets, prevents loss of seeds from the targeted seeding area.

[0161] By way of example, Triodia recruits optimally between 5-10 mm depth and that it is likely most species recruit optimally when sown to shallow depths, to maximise emergence from the seedbank and reduce waste of limited topsoil, spreading topsoil or topsoil mixtures to no more, than 10 mm can be advisable. Topsoil can be, replaced to around 200 mm in some regional areas, such as the Pilbara. Reducing the topsoil respreading depth to 10 mm could increase the area which can be treated with topsoil by 20 times.

[0162] FIGS. 4A to 4C show features of an embodiment exemplifying the present invention.

[0163] Apparatus 10 includes a hopper 12 within which are mixed a growing medium (such as soil and/or other organic material), water and seeds. The water can be supplied from a reservoir 14 (such as a container), which can be supplied from the reservoir via a pump 15.

[0164] In this embodiment, a generator 16 provides power to a motor 24 to drive a pump 18 and to a motor 26 to power an agitator/mixer 28 for creating and maintaining a slurry within the hopper.

[0165] The pump can be a peristaltic pump that produces portions of slurry of volume and periodicity dependent upon the speed of the pump and the number of peristaltic pumping actions per revolution. For example, the pump may have a two-lobed cam producing two pulses of slurry per revolution. Alternatively, a three-lobed cam could produce three pulses per revolution with, each pulse having a volume ⅔rds of the volume of each of the two pulses for the two, lobed cam.

[0166] It will be appreciated that other pumping and slurry volume and periodicity controls may be utilised. For example, a valve may be opened and closed periodically to start-stop-start pulses of the slurry.

[0167] Slurry is pumped from the hopper 12 via hose 22a through the pump 18 to at least one outlet 20 via hose 22b for depositing the slurry containing the seeds onto the ground surface.

[0168] Preferably the apparatus is vehicle 11 mounted, such as on a trailer or dedicated powered vehicle, which may be autonomous, remotely controlled or manned.

[0169] The at least one outlet 20 may be configured to move laterally/transversely to vary lateral/transverse position for depositing the slurry onto the ground surface. A position mechanism 30 can include a motor 32 driving an endless belt 34 around a pulley 39. The endless belt is connected to a carriage 36 arranged to slide on rails 38. Height of the at least one outlet can be adjusted, such as by adjusters 40. The respective carriage can be supported and/or retained on the rails by one or more wheels 37. FIG. 4D provides examples of arrangements the delivery outlets 20, allowing for series and/or parallel configurations of the outlets, and optionally multiple outlets in various combinations/positions.

[0170] Multiple carriages 36 may be provided, each supporting at least one said outlet 20. For example, alternative arrangements of the position mechanisms may be provided such that multiple carriages do not need to traverse the entire length of the slide rails or carriages can be provided in parallel such that carriages can pass one another along their own respective rails.

[0171] Preferably the outlet hose 22b is connected to the carriage 36 via a bearing arrangement 42 that allows a rotational degree of freedom of the hose to reduce or prevent twisting of the hose when traversing along the rails.

[0172] FIG. 6 shows examples of pats 44 of the slurry containing seeds. deposited on the ground surface 46.

[0173] FIGS. 7A and 7B show examples of germinated seeds merging as seedlings from the pats.

[0174] A method of depositing a growing medium and seeds includes mixing seeds in a growing medium, such as a soil or part soil part other organic material, with water to form a slurry containing the seeds. Alternatively, the slurry can be formed and the seeds blended into the slurry before depositing or added to the deposited slurry.

[0175] Portions of the slurry can be deposited at spaced intervals. The intervals can be determined by one or more or speed of traverse over terrain (such as a vehicle speed), rate of depositing (such as by pump and/or valve control), rate of transverse movement of an outlet for delivering the slurry, and height of the respective outlet above a ground surface. Viscosity/density of the slurry may also determine spacing and/or volume of the slurry delivered. Height of the outlet from the ground surface and slurry viscosity/density can be controlled and used to determine volume of slurry to deliver and size (diameter and thickness) of the delivered pat.

[0176] It will be appreciated that the apparatus can deposit one or more seeds onto the ground surface and subsequently cover the seeds with the slurry.

[0177] Position of the apparatus 10 can be tracked by GPS and the area ted be seeded can be pre-mapped so that the vehicle follows a predetermined seeding pattern. Location of each pat can be recorded e.g. as each pat is delivered to the ground a GPS location is associated with each pat or number of pats in an area. The vehicle may include on-board GDPS and mapping devices.

[0178] Embodiments include an arrangement of apparatus and method of use, as shown by way of example in FIG. 5 In FIG. 5, a hopper 12 receives seeds from a seed store 13 via a metering system 17 for controlling rate/volume flow of the seeds.

[0179] A growing medium is supplied to the hopper 12 from a container 19.

[0180] A water pump 15 supplies water (which may include one or more nutrients for aiding plant growth) from a reservoir 14 to the hopper 12. Supply of water to the hopper can be controlled to manage the consistency of the slurry, such as increasing the amount of water in the hopper for a given amount of growth medium to make the slurry more liquid, which may be preferable in high ambient temperature conditions. An agitator or mixer 28 mixes the water and growth medium into a slurry in which the seeds are dispersed.

[0181] A pump arrangement 18 supplies the slurry containing the seeds to at least one outlet 20. Position of the at least one outlet can be controlled by a position mechanism 30, which can traverse the at least one outlet laterally for lateral position and dispensing of the slurry and seeds. Height of the at least one outlet can also be controlled, such as by a mechanical height adjustment arrangement 40 or an electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically powered height control arrangement.

[0182] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be readily integrated into known restoration or agricultural practices.

[0183] Embodiments include an apparatus for use in establishing or re-establishing plant growth over a land area, the apparatus including a supply of a growing medium and an arrangement including at least one delivery outlet for delivering the growing medium at spaced intervals from a height onto a soil surface of the land area, the growing medium contains seeds or is delivered in tandem with and on top of seeds deposited on the soil surface or deposited onto or adjacent to seeds or seedlings already deposited on the soil surface.

[0184] Seeds may be contained in the growing medium prior to delivery of the growing medium onto the soil surface.

[0185] The apparatus may be configured to deposit the growing medium onto seeds on the soil surface. The apparatus may be arranged to deliver the seeds onto the soil surface and subsequently to deliver the growing medium onto the seeds.

[0186] The growing medium may include at least one of a slurry, pellets, granules or a powder. The growing medium may include a slurry including soil and water. The growing medium may include at least one of: a proportion of waste material, one or more nutrients, elements, beneficial compounds, beneficial microbes, soil microbes, anti-stress agents, inorganic compounds and/or organic compounds, soil microbiata. The waste material may include a proportion of a mineral waste from commercial or industrial processes. The mineral waste may include material from one or more of ore/mineral crushing, milling and screening. The growing medium may include soil amendment and/or germination/emergence enhancing products.

[0187] Embodiments may include a mixer and/or an agitator for creating the slurry and/or maintaining the growing medium as the slurry in a reservoir.

[0188] Embodiments may include at least one delivery device for delivering the growing medium to the at least one delivery outlet via at least one conduit.

[0189] Embodiments may include one or more of, or a combination of any two or more of, at least one pump, at least one hopper having at least one respective outlet, at least one gravity feed arrangement, at least one auger, at least one conveyor, at least one vibration screen or chute. The at least one delivery outlet is provided at a desired position above the soil surface.

[0190] Embodiments may include at least one position adjuster for adjusting height of the at least one delivery outlet from the ground surface. Height of the at least one delivery outlet from the ground surface may be selected based on one or more of plant species, seed type, travel velocity/speed, speed/velocity of a position mechanism, one or more growing medium properties, viscosity of the growing medium, one or more site soil properties, ambient air temperature and/or ambient humidity, prevailing or predicted weather conditions.

[0191] Embodiments include a traverser enables lateral motion of the at least one delivery outlet relative to a forward direction of travel of the at least one delivery outlet. The traverser may include a mechanism aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel which allows pats of the growing medium to be deposited anywhere within lateral width limits. The traverser may include a slider mechanism having at least one carriage for moving/positioning the respective at east one outlet associated with the respective carriage.

[0192] Embodiments of the apparatus include a pivot or rotation device, such as a bearing, allowing rotational motion of the respective at least one outlet and/or a conduit in fluid communication with the respective at least one outlet. The pivot or rotation device may enable decoupling of axial twist of a hose in fluid communication relative, to the respective at least one delivery outlet. The at least one traverser may be driven via at least one drive means. Motion of the traverser may be provided by at least one electric motor or at least one hydraulic motor or driven by the driving/trailing wheels of a vehicle conveying at least part of the apparatus.

[0193] At least one position of the at least one delivery outlet may be limited by at least one limiting device, such as electronic limit switches. The at least one delivery outlet may include multiple said delivery outlets spaced with respect to one another. The multiple delivery outlets include at least two spaced and/or separately moveable said delivery outlets. The multiple delivery outlets may include coaxial or axially offset with respect to one another. At least one the delivery outlet of the multiple delivery outlets may be arranged and/or configured to move relative to at least one other of the multiple delivery outlets. Two or more said delivery outlets are arranged to move in concert with one another.

[0194] Outlet direction for dispensing the growing medium may be controllable. Position of the at least one delivery outlet may be optimised via position/location sensing algorithms, using for example, computer vision, artificial intelligence and/or GPS or predetermined position mapping.

[0195] Embodiments may include a metering arrangement for metering delivery/deposition rate and/or volume of the growing medium. Deposition rate may be achieved for example via variable pump speed controlled by a stepper or servo motor. Embodiments of the metering arrangement may include a metering device for metering density of the seeds within the growing medium or independently deposited on the soil surface Embodiments of the apparatus may be mounted to a vehicle or may be self-propelled or may be provided on or as a trailer for towing. Embodiments include a water supply to provide water to adjust consistency of the growing medium. Embodiments include at least one of: a slurry pump, a water pump, a mixer and/or an agitator is powered by an on-board or external power supply. An external power supply for/of the apparatus may come from a power take off (PTO) or electric drive or hydraulic fluid flow or powered off driven/trailing wheel/track.

[0196] Embodiments include a method for use in seeding for establishing or re-establishing plant growth over a land area, the method including supplying a growing medium to at least one outlet of a delivery apparatus, depositing at least a portion of the growing medium and seeds onto a soil surface or depositing the growing medium onto the seeds on the soil surface.

[0197] Embodiments may include depositing the growing medium containing the seeds or in tandem with dispensing the seeds onto the soil surface. Embodiments may include depositing the seeds onto the soil surface and subsequently depositing the growing medium onto the seeds. Embodiments may include premixing the growing medium as a slurry before dispensing or mixing as a slurry whilst dispensing. The growing medium may include one or more of: topsoil, other organic or inorganic medium, waste material and water. The slurry may include a proportion of at least one waste material. The at least one waste material may include a proportion of a mineral waste from commercial or industrial processes. The mineral waste may include material from one or more of ore or mineral crushing, milling and screening.

[0198] Embodiments may include delivering the growing medium to the at least one outlet by at least one delivery device. The at least one delivery device may include one or more of, or a combination of any two or more of, at least one pump, at least one hopper having at least one respective outlet, at least one gravity feed arrangement, at least one auger, at least one conveyor, at least one vibration screen or chute. Embodiments may include delivering the growing medium by pumping the growing medium by use of at least one pump to the at least one delivery outlet via at least one conduit. Embodiments may include providing the at least one delivery outlet at a preferred height above the soil surface. Embodiments may include selecting or controlling the height of the at least one delivery outlet from the ground surface based on one or more of plant species and seed type, travel velocity/speed, speed/velocity of a position mechanism, one or more growing medium properties, viscosity of the growing medium, one or more site soil properties, ambient air temperature and/or ambient humidity, prevailing or predicted weather conditions. Embodiments may include using a position mechanism to control lateral position of the at least one delivery outlet. Embodiments may include controlling lateral motion of the at least one delivery outlet relative to a forward direction of travel of the at least one delivery outlet. Embodiments may include metering delivery/deposition rate and/or volume of the growing medium and the seeds. Embodiments may include metering density of, the seeds within the growing medium. Embodiments may include depositing the growing medium to form at least one pat on contact or after contact with the soil surface. When the at least one delivery outlet is moving, delivery of the growing medium may be intermittent such that, said pats are created spaced on the surface of the soil. Delivery of the growing medium may be controlled in association with one to six degrees of freedom of motion of the at least one delivery outlet. Delivery of the growing medium onto the surface of the soil may be synchronised to forward and/or lateral motion of the at least one delivery outlet. Position of the at least one delivery outlet may be controlled by a position mechanism that moves the at least one delivery outlet.

[0199] The position mechanism may include a traverser enabling lateral motion of the at least one delivery outlet relative to a forward direction of travel of the at least one delivery outlet. The traverser may move the at least one delivery outlet by a slider mechanism aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel which allows the growing medium to be deposited anywhere within lateral width limits of the traverser. Use of the traverser may include the slider mechanism allowing motion of a slider in either direction along a longitudinal extent of a slide bar Embodiments may include providing the growing medium including microbes beneficial to the seeds/plants.

[0200] Delivered/deposited growing medium may be as slurry pats between 5 mm and 12 mm thick on average, preferably between 6 mm and 10 mm thick on average, and more preferably between 7.5 mm and 9 mm thick on average.

[0201] Embodiments may include depositing the growing medium from a vehicle in motion. Depositing of the growing medium containing the seeds may include being guided and/or controlled via external communication or predetermined guidance program.

[0202] Embodiments may include mixing and/or agitating at least part of the growing medium as a slurry in a storage container prior to depositing. Embodiments may include adjusting consistency of the growing medium prior to delivery/depositing.

[0203] Embodiments may include controlling vertical position of the at, least one delivery outlet for delivering the growing medium as a slurry by height control means to control morphology of the resulting slurry deposition. Embodiments may include limiting at least one position of the at least one delivery outlet by at least one limiting device, such as electronic limit switches. Embodiments may include providing multiple said delivery outlets spaced laterally with respect to one another. Embodiments may include the growing medium incorporating soil amendment and germination/emergence enhancing products.

[0204] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.