In organic plant production, where there is very little room to correct problems after the fact, ensuring uniform germination from the very start of the growing cycle is critical.
"In organic production, this is key. In the end, because you don't have as many tools to make corrections later, everything starts with how the plant comes up. If we achieve uniform germination, crop management is much simpler further down the line — the plants grow evenly and respond better to biological controls," explains Andrea Salguero of Semilleros Saliplant.
"It's also important from a customer standpoint, because it allows us to meet delivery deadlines more reliably and get more out of the seed, avoiding losses."
"Working with well-treated or pelleted seeds, treated by specialized companies like Granada Coating, to improve germination consistency makes a huge difference. Pelleting, for example, helps a lot with small or irregular seeds, because it gives them a more uniform shape and that makes sowing much easier, preventing multiple seeds from falling into the same cell."
"And then there are treatments, including pre-germination treatments, that make emergence faster, more uniform, and more vigorous. Ultimately, all of this translates into a stronger plant from the start and a higher percentage of usable transplants, which in a nursery operation is fundamental."
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Alongside seed quality, precision in seed placement within the tray cell is equally important for ensuring uniform crop development. "It's essential," Andrea says. "It's not just about having good seed, it's about placing it exactly where it needs to be. Depth and position directly affect how the plant will germinate and develop."
"If the seed isn't placed correctly, you can run into root problems, instability, or even competition between plants if several land in the same cell. When sowing is precise, all the plants emerge under the same conditions, and that is the foundation of uniformity."
To achieve consistent, precise germination, Saliplant has been working with Conic System sowing machines for more than 30 years. "Over all these years, the equipment has proven to be extremely reliable. It has allowed us to maintain precise, consistent sowing over time, which is fundamental to what we do."
"In addition to the speed and quality, one of the biggest advantages has been the ability to detect and resolve issues. Over time, and especially now with the integration of new software, we can identify potential sowing faults much faster and adjust the machine's performance almost in real time."
"This gives us a lot of confidence in the process, because we're not just sowing with precision, we also have greater control and the ability to respond quickly to any deviation. In the end, that translates into greater reliability and much more consistent uniformity."
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Saliplant recently upgraded two sowing lines with new software, new punching tooling, and the Decop plate system. "This upgrade has been very significant for us. Above all, we've gained in punching precision, which now adapts much better to each type of plant."
"We've also improved significantly in terms of agility, because format changes are faster and easier thanks to the Decop system. The software update was carried out in collaboration with Smart Sowing Systems, the current owners of the Conic System brand, which represents a real step forward in terms of control, connectivity, and the long-term development of the system."
"For us, it's essential to work with a partner that not only develops the technology, but also ensures continuity of the brand, technical service, and long-term support for Conic equipment."
"Taken together, all of this means more uniform, more efficient sowing, with a significantly higher level of reliability and control."
As organic production demands ever greater uniformity and process control, sowing technology has become a key factor in guaranteeing the final quality of the transplant crop.
"In organic production, I'll say it again, there's no room to correct things afterward, so everything depends on getting it right from the beginning. Sowing technology allows us to place exactly one seed per cell, at the right depth and uniformly. That makes germination more consistent, plants grow at the same rate, and there is less competition between them. And in the end, all of that shows directly in the quality of the transplant crop."
© SaliplantFor more information:
Saliplant
[email protected]
https://saliplant.com/
Smart Sowing Systems
© Saliplant[email protected]
https://www.smartsowing.com/es/
