New biomimicry device to help plant seeds that drill themselves into the soil

Aug 01, 2023 09:30:04

There is a new thing out of wood to help plant seeds by broadcasting, and they drill themselves into the soil with humidity changes.

The question before any replanting is: what is the main problem hindering the growth of the vegetation?

Aug 01, 2023 10:44:29

Interesting concept, perhaps to apply primarily to large seeds for economical reasons ?
I would be curious to see any field experiment, and how it compares to other sowing methods. Especially with seed balls/bombs/cubes that could be applied the same way, but can plant an ecosystem at once.
I suspect it is more intended for mechanically assisted, large-surface and high input artificial monocultures than for hand sowing in a small lot polyculture design. Forest restoration might be another indication if a native seed mix is used instead of a monoculture.
However, depending on soil quality and cover, a good bioturbation can do the same and might be more practical to achieve.

Aug 01, 2023 11:55:42

I never heard of seeds that drill themselves into the soil with humidity changes. So I ask Mr. Google.

Powered by changes in humidity—curling when dry and straightening when wet—this Erodium cicutarium seed (or more specifically, an achene) will bury itself by slowly drilling into the ground. This time lapse video by p roullard shows its “hygroscopically active” spiraling shape.

https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/redstem-storks-bill-erodium-cicutarium

Since I didn't know what Erodium cicutarium is I also asked Mr. Google.

Guess what I have these plants!

Erodium cicutarium (also known as Common Stork's Bill)

Oct 12, 2024 14:10:02

My daughter just pointed me at this video which I thought was super-cool, so I came to Permies to post about it...of course it's already here. :-)

The research was done at Carnegie Mellon, and they wrote a little here: https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2023/february/engineered-magic-wooden-seed-carriers-mimic-the-behavior-of-self-burying-seeds

Any sufficiently advanced technology will be used as a cat toy. And this tiny ad contains a very small cat:

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