PELLET SEEDING ON WESTERN RANGELANDS 31 



Most of the large-scale field plantings were paralleled by experi- 

 mental studies in which airplane broadcasting of pelleted seed was 

 subjected to direct comparison with other methods of range revege- 

 tation. These studies showed that pelleted seed had no advantage 

 over nonpelleted seed so far as grass establishment is concerned. 

 The studies also confirmed a great mass of data indicating that drilling 

 is superior to broadcasting, and that successful establishment of 

 grass on arid rangelands under conditions encountered in this study 

 requires elimination of competing vegetation. 



Greenhouse and laboratory studies revealed that a varying but 

 sometimes very high percentage of the seeds of grasses put into com- 

 pressed earthen pellets were injured by the pelleting process. Coated 

 seed pellets retained high germinability. 



Airplane broadcasting of compressed earthen pellets on an un- 

 prepared seedbed at a rate on only 1.2 pounds of seed per acre (the 

 rate recommended by the manufacturer) cost $2.55 per acre. Xo 

 satisfactory stands were obtained. In some studies, two or three 

 times the recommended rate of seeding was used, at additional cost. 

 No acceptable stands were obtained. 



On seedbeds prepared by burning, airplane broadcasting of 6 

 pounds of seed in coated seed pellets yielded in the second year 1% 

 pounds of grass per dollar invested. Broadcasting of natural seed 

 yielded 6 pounds, and drilling yielded 42 pounds. 



When the seedbed was prepared by plowing, airplane broadcasting 

 of coated seed pellets yielded 13 pounds of grass per dollar invested. 

 Broadcasting of natural seed yielded 21 pounds, and drilling yielded 

 71 pounds. 



Pelleted seed cannot be recommended for re vegetating western 

 rangelands. This conclusion is reached after critical evaluation of 

 every available documented study with pellets, including re-examina- 

 tion of most of the seeded sites. 



In all the studies conducted to date, there is no known account on 

 western rangelands of a single successful stand produced by airplane 

 broadcasting of either compressed earthen or coated seed pellets. 



