Spiral Roots

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Spiral Roots
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What is Spiral Root?Negative Geotropism
Diagram shows particles gravitating to bottom
where they influence hormonal actions that slows
growth on the underside causing the root to curve
downward as the upper side continues to grow.
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Over Packing

• Tray sinks lower into water
• Spiral Root

• Saturation of media
• Heavy tray
• 200 cell tray 8.3 lbs

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Effects of Over Packing on Spiral Root
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Factors that Influence Spiral Root

• Media
• Varies by brand
• May change from year to year
• Pellet
• Unpredictable
• Weather
• Inconsistent
• Moderately predictable

How do these factors Influence spiral Root?
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How is a pellet made

• Coating
• Diatomaceous earth
• Main Ingredient
• Binding agent
• Etc.

Diatoms
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What factors influence pellet performance?

• Positive
• Melt down coat
• Less drying conditions
• Cloudy, cooler conditions
• Optimum wicking media
• Good seed/soil contact
• Agri-mate
• Double Dibbling
• Overhead Irrigation

• Negative
• Hard Seed Coat
• Drying Conditions
• Sunny, hot weather
• Poor Wicking Media
• Initial moisture
• Wetting agent
• Over packing

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How does roots respond to a damaged root cap?
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What happens to the root cap of a seed that has
enough moisture to germinate, but not enough to
break out of the pellet
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Effect of Agri-mate on germination
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Effect of Agri-mate on spiral root
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Effect of Agri-mate on useable plants
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Agri-mate rates
0g/cell
0.02 g
0.04g
0.06g
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Proper distribution of Agrimate
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Effect of covering on seed germination 2002
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Effect of covering on spiral root 2002