I've been looking for a recipe for a few years and I think this will work fine with tobacco seeds.
W. S. McGuire, professor of agronomy, and
David B. Hannaway, Extension forage crop specialist,
Oregon State University
Pelleting other species
Alfalfa and its appropriate Rhizobia are not tolerant to acid soil conditions. Therefore, liming the soil to the recommended pH is necessary. Pelleting is of benefit, however, in assuring adequate numbers of viable Rhizobia in contact with the seed. Clovers are more tolerant than alfalfa to pH values below 6.0. Lime pelleting is of most benefit to the true clovers, especially when introducing a new clover or sowing in soil that has not grown the species before. This has application in western Oregon to subterranean, crimson, and arrowleaf cloverS, which require special strains of Rhizobia prepared for the species. White, red, and alsike clovers seldom show ineffective nodulation in Oregon. These clovers, especially white clover, have been grown for many years and the Rhizobia are generally present in soils. Nevertheless, inoculation is always recommended to insure nodulation, and to provide large numbers of an effective nitrogen fixing
strain to overcome less effective or parasitic strains already present.
Materials needed for pelleting
• Gum or adhesive. It must be water soluble and not detrimental to Rhizobia or seed. Gumarable has been found to be satisfactory. It normally contains no preservative, is inexpensive, and is readily available through chemical supply outlets.
• Lime. Most of the limestone sources in Oregon have been investigated for compatibility with Rhizobia survival. Of these, Oswego lime and sugarlime provided excellent survival of the Rhizobia. The lime should be finely ground, mostly passing through a 200-mesh screen. Byproduct industry limes such as paper mills, acetylene, and stack dusts should not be used.
• Peat inoculant. The inoculant must be specifically labeled for the legume species and within the expiration date printed on the container.
Pelleting large lots of seed
1. Prepare a 40 percent solution of arable gum by adding 4 pounds of the powdered gum to 1 gallon of water. This is enough for at least 100 pounds of seed. Slowly add the gum while stirring or shaking. The gum goes into solution very slowly and should be prepared the day before. Warm or hot water is helpful, but the solution should not be boiled. Make sure the water has cooled before adding inoculum, since hot water will kill the Rhizobia.
2. Next day, add peat inoculum to the solution and stir until there is a smooth slurry. Use at least the recommended amount of inoculum for the 100 pounds of seed (2 bushel size).
3. Put the seed into a concrete mixer or large container, add the gum-inoculum slurry to the seed while agitating until all the seeds are coated. If a mixer is not available, be sure to use a small enough quantity of seed for thorough mixing.
4. Add the lime and continue mixing, preferably at higher speed and with the vanes removed. About 50 pounds of lime is required for 100 pounds of sub- or crimson clover seed and slightly more for arrowleaf clover.
5. Lumps of seed may occur because of too much slurry or insufficient action in agitation. Any lumps should be broken up or removed before putting seed into the drill.
Pelleting small amounts of seed Small quantities of seed can be pelleted by using pint or quart jars one-fourth full of gum powder, then filled with warm water and shaken on occasion until the gum is dissolved. Put the seeds in a tub or any suitable container, mix the required amount of inoculum with the gum solution to form the slurry. Pour on the slurry while stirring the seeds by hand, until all seeds are wet. Add lime with one hand while stirring vigorously with the other hand until the seeds are pelleted. Planting can start immediately, especially if pellets are mixed with grass seeds, but they will harden and are easier to plant if allowed to stand a few hours. Plant at least within 48 hours.
• Do not use quicklime, industrial byproduct lime products, or calcium hydroxide as they may be toxic to Rhizobia.
• Do not make up gum solution more than about 36 hours before intended use. With no preservative, the solution is decomposed by bacteria and fungi and may become toxic to Rhizobia.
• Do not leave inoculated seeds or pelleted seeds in direct sunlight.
• Do plant pelleted seeds as soon as dry or within 48 hours, and refrigerate seeds if not planting immediately.
• Do use at least the recommended amount of inoculum—one packet per bushel of seed (60 pounds). Using two to three times this amount is good insurance of maintaining an adequate number of bacteria.
• Do throw away any gum solution and inoculum that are left over.
• Do wash containers before they become dry. If a cement mixer is used, add gravel to the water for cleaning.
W. S. McGuire, professor of agronomy, and
David B. Hannaway, Extension forage crop specialist,
Oregon State University
Pelleting other species
Alfalfa and its appropriate Rhizobia are not tolerant to acid soil conditions. Therefore, liming the soil to the recommended pH is necessary. Pelleting is of benefit, however, in assuring adequate numbers of viable Rhizobia in contact with the seed. Clovers are more tolerant than alfalfa to pH values below 6.0. Lime pelleting is of most benefit to the true clovers, especially when introducing a new clover or sowing in soil that has not grown the species before. This has application in western Oregon to subterranean, crimson, and arrowleaf cloverS, which require special strains of Rhizobia prepared for the species. White, red, and alsike clovers seldom show ineffective nodulation in Oregon. These clovers, especially white clover, have been grown for many years and the Rhizobia are generally present in soils. Nevertheless, inoculation is always recommended to insure nodulation, and to provide large numbers of an effective nitrogen fixing
strain to overcome less effective or parasitic strains already present.
Materials needed for pelleting
• Gum or adhesive. It must be water soluble and not detrimental to Rhizobia or seed. Gumarable has been found to be satisfactory. It normally contains no preservative, is inexpensive, and is readily available through chemical supply outlets.
• Lime. Most of the limestone sources in Oregon have been investigated for compatibility with Rhizobia survival. Of these, Oswego lime and sugarlime provided excellent survival of the Rhizobia. The lime should be finely ground, mostly passing through a 200-mesh screen. Byproduct industry limes such as paper mills, acetylene, and stack dusts should not be used.
• Peat inoculant. The inoculant must be specifically labeled for the legume species and within the expiration date printed on the container.
Pelleting large lots of seed
1. Prepare a 40 percent solution of arable gum by adding 4 pounds of the powdered gum to 1 gallon of water. This is enough for at least 100 pounds of seed. Slowly add the gum while stirring or shaking. The gum goes into solution very slowly and should be prepared the day before. Warm or hot water is helpful, but the solution should not be boiled. Make sure the water has cooled before adding inoculum, since hot water will kill the Rhizobia.
2. Next day, add peat inoculum to the solution and stir until there is a smooth slurry. Use at least the recommended amount of inoculum for the 100 pounds of seed (2 bushel size).
3. Put the seed into a concrete mixer or large container, add the gum-inoculum slurry to the seed while agitating until all the seeds are coated. If a mixer is not available, be sure to use a small enough quantity of seed for thorough mixing.
4. Add the lime and continue mixing, preferably at higher speed and with the vanes removed. About 50 pounds of lime is required for 100 pounds of sub- or crimson clover seed and slightly more for arrowleaf clover.
5. Lumps of seed may occur because of too much slurry or insufficient action in agitation. Any lumps should be broken up or removed before putting seed into the drill.
Pelleting small amounts of seed Small quantities of seed can be pelleted by using pint or quart jars one-fourth full of gum powder, then filled with warm water and shaken on occasion until the gum is dissolved. Put the seeds in a tub or any suitable container, mix the required amount of inoculum with the gum solution to form the slurry. Pour on the slurry while stirring the seeds by hand, until all seeds are wet. Add lime with one hand while stirring vigorously with the other hand until the seeds are pelleted. Planting can start immediately, especially if pellets are mixed with grass seeds, but they will harden and are easier to plant if allowed to stand a few hours. Plant at least within 48 hours.
• Do not use quicklime, industrial byproduct lime products, or calcium hydroxide as they may be toxic to Rhizobia.
• Do not make up gum solution more than about 36 hours before intended use. With no preservative, the solution is decomposed by bacteria and fungi and may become toxic to Rhizobia.
• Do not leave inoculated seeds or pelleted seeds in direct sunlight.
• Do plant pelleted seeds as soon as dry or within 48 hours, and refrigerate seeds if not planting immediately.
• Do use at least the recommended amount of inoculum—one packet per bushel of seed (60 pounds). Using two to three times this amount is good insurance of maintaining an adequate number of bacteria.
• Do throw away any gum solution and inoculum that are left over.
• Do wash containers before they become dry. If a cement mixer is used, add gravel to the water for cleaning.