What is it?

Encrusted seed is coated with a smaller amount of material than that of pelleted seed. The buildup of coating material is stopped before the treated seed attains roundness.

Encrustment is most often used on crops that benefit from seed singulation but don’t require post-emergence thinning. For example, parsley, carrots and bunching onions. Encrusted seeds can be used in protected culture or direct field applications. Encrusting adds more weight to the finished product than film coating and significantly less weight than pelleting. Generally, encrusting increases the weight of the seed from 150% to 350% (.015:1 to .035:1 ratio).

Common uses of encrusting

Encrustment on seed is commonly used in situations when growers primarily intend to reduce doubles or multiples when planting rather than achieve exact and consistent seed spacing.

Encrustment is often used on crops that benefit from seed singulation but don’t require post-emergence thinning.