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SEED TAPE OVERVIEW

Seed tape substrate overview.
Seed placement (spacing).
Spool sizes.

Examples.

 

SEED TAPE SUBSTRATE OVERVIEW.

We provide a seed taping service and planting machinery.

You decide the seed to be used, (your preferred seed) and you decide the spacing interval between seeds and the length to be taped, you also control the planting depth of the seed and spacing between the rows.
 

We offer 3 types of seed tape substrate options:


a. HYDRO TAPE
This is our default or standard substrate. Biodegradable and Water-soluble. The tape dissolves in minutes the thread takes a few days.

 

b. PAPER TAPE
Used for pure organic grower. Biodegradable, breaks down over several days depending on moisture and bio activity of the soil.

 

c. COTTON TAPE

Used for special applications. Biodegradable, breaks down over several days depending on moisture and bio activity of the soil.

Seed tape substrates, Hydro, Paper, cotton.

HYDRO TAPE

PAPER TAPE

COTTON TAPE

Seed tape properties

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A/. Hydro Tape.

Water-soluble and biodegradable.
 

Tape dissolves in 3-5 minutes, thread degrades in 3-5 days.

Our Default Tape: General purpose use.

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Size: 4 widths/sizes available.

1. Standard, small seeds under 3mm

2. Wide, medium seeds 3mm to 5mm

3. Extra Wide, large seeds 5mm to 7mm

4. Extra Extra Wide,extra large seeds 7mm to 12mm​

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B/. Paper Tape.

Biodegradable.


Tape degrades in 5 or more days, thread degrades in 3-5 days.

Purpose: Organic growers.

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Size: Standard only. Smaller seeds. Under 4mm.

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3/. Cotton Tape.

Biodegradable.

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Tape degrades in 8 or more days, thread degrades in 3-5 days.

Purpose: Special applications, natives, slow germinating seeds.

Suspending in course soil during long cold periods.

Can be boiled for pre-germination.

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Size: Standard only. Smaller seeds. Under 4mm.

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Seed placement (spacing):

The process of seed taping is "material management". In the process of seed taping we use an air-seeder. Basically we are trying to encapsulate the seed in a tape substrate which is then twisted and tied to form a string. 

 

Separating clumps of seeds, to drop a single seed, has it's challenges. We have developed many methods of separating the seed clumps, uniquely allowing for a good result from both natural seed (graded and ungraded), coated  pelletized seeds.  

 

As we are handling a natural material where uniformity is variable, the placement of seed at any spacing increment will be approximate. There will always be some variation due to the seed dropping from the belt to the tape, which will be affected by the weight and shape of the seed, ie. a round seeds like radish or turnip will drop quickly but will roll slightly, a light weight seed like carrot, lettuce or stock column will drift to the tape but wont roll. 

 

Further more there is a fine line between a single seed and no seed being deposited to the tape. We calibrate our separation process with each new taping session. Depending on the type of seed there may be some degree of doubling and misses. Round seeds and coated or pelletized seeds are the most accurately taped, with very little doubling or missed seeds. Odd shaped, extra large and light weight natural seeds are more difficult, resulting is some doubling and missed seeds.

Singulating:

We can tape from approx 10mm up to 500mm intervals between seeds, with approximate increments of 5mm. For example, beetroot seed @80mm or 85mm, small round radish @30mm or 35mm, sunflower seed @12cm or 12.5cm, lettuce seed @225mm or 250mm.

Grouping:

We can tape in groups of seeds, mainly used for selective thinning. This is especially useful for seeds grown at large intervals and seeds of poor germination, such as lettuce, cabbage, endives etc.
 
We recommend grouping of seeds with a minimum of 125mm to 150mm between each group of seeds, from the last seed to the first seed of the next group.
 
Example:

Seed can be deposited in lots of 2, 3 or 4 seeds leaving a gap then another 2, 3 or 4 seed. There will be a space between each group of seeds of approx., 20mm, then the gap will start at 150mm.

If the gap between seed groups is wider, say 200mm or 250mm, then the gap between each seed in a group will be wider as well, for example: Lettuce with 3 seeds per group @250mm spacing, will have approx., 35mm-40mm space between each seed.


Saturated:

We can saturate the tape with seed. In this process we remove less seed. We can adjust the amount of seed removed, to be light clumps to heavy clumps of seed. If the seed is dropped to close, ie,  less than 20mm, there won't be mush of a gap or space between seeds, if the spacing is further apart, say 80mm, then there will be a gape or space and several seeds dropped at that spacing. 

NOTE: We aim for the placement increment requested, with a tolerance of approximately 20pct. 

 

Seed Spacing Diagram:

Singulating:

  10mm    O       O       O       O       O       O       O     
 
  30mm    O                        O                         O                         O    


Grouping:

  2 x 2    O  O                          O  O                            O  O       
      

  3 x 3    O  O  O                      O  O                            O  O  O      

  4 x 4    O  O  O  O                  O  O  O  O                    O  O  O  O        

      

 

Examples of singulated placement

Examples of seed spacing, when placed on seed tape.

SPOOLS

Spools Sizes and Construction

We make several spools sizes. Small, Medium Small, 2 Medium Large, Large.

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The spools capacity will vary depending on the size of the seed and the density of seed

to be placed on the tape and the type and width of tape used.

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We judge the spool to be used based on the order request.

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Construction of the spool. The core is cardboard 3mm thick. The flanges; small spools, box board, the 2 medium large and large spool, recycle cardboard boxes.

5 Spools sizes used for seeded tapes.

Spool Labelling

We label the spools on the flange with the seed name, variety, spacing and length.

Example of spool labelling.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL SEEDS TAPED

VEGETABLE

ONION; LEEK, SHALLOT, SPRING

CARROT; FULL SIZE, BABY ETC.,

BEETROOT AND SILVERBEET

RADISH; ROUND AND DAIKON

BEANS, PEAS

TURNIP, SWEDE

PARNSIP,SPINACH

FENNEL, ENDIVE, LETTUCE

TOMATOE, CAPSICUM

PUMPKIN, MELON

CAULIFLOWER, BROCCOLI

CABBAGE

ROCKET

CHICORY, KOHL RABI,  KALE

FLOWERS

OTHERS

SUNFLOWER

STOCK

DELPHINIUM

CELOSIA

ZINNIA

KALE

AMARANTH

ASTER, ALYSSUM

CALENDULA

SWEET WILLIAM

EUPHORBIA

ANTIRRINUM

SWEET PEAS

LAVENDER, POPPY

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ASIAN VEGETABLES

DAIKON RADISH, JOY CHOI, PAK CHOI, CHOY SUM, WONG BOK, MIZUNA, CHILLI.

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HERBS

CORIANDER, BASIL, THYME,

PARSELY, CHIVES, DILL, MINT.

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BROADACRE 

WHEAT, BARLEY, OATS,

SORGUM, CANOLA, CORN

SESAME, MILLET, COTTON.

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©2022 by Livyn Pty. Ltd.​

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