Research on new approach to seed coating technology underway

New findings on a patent-pending surfactant seed coating technology were presented at the International Symposium on Adjuvants for Agrochemicals.

Dr. Matt Madsen, a research scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service who has collaborated with Aquatrols, disclosed the results of a study conducted last summer at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Burns, Ore.

His findings showed that seed coating technology may provide a novel approach for delivering soil surfactants in water repellent environments and aid in seed establishment of new golf course greens and sports fields.

Throughout the study, surfactant seed coating technology was shown to ameliorate a severely water repellent soil and subsequently increase rootzone water reserves for turfgrass seedling emergence, cover, and biomass production.

Madsen said the merger of seed coating and surfactant technologies could potentially reduce the cost, time and amount of seed needed in the agricultural, horticultural and turfgrass industries. In light of increasing demands on water sources and diminishing supplies, this may provide a solution to addressing issues related to water scarcity.

Although additional research is needed, Aquatrols is optimistic about Madsen’s findings and the potential behind this surfactant seed coating technology.

“These results reinforce our belief that surfactant seed coating technology can play an important role in addressing the serious issues related to water scarcity,” said Aquatrols President Tracy Jarman. “Our work with Dr. Madsen underscores our company’s commitment to developing new and innovative solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.”

The collaboration between Aquatrols and Dr. Madsen is the result of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement the company and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service signed last year that is intended to further develop and apply technology that Madsen began developing while he was a graduate student at Brigham Young University.