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Film
coating has gained popularity as a seed-coating method over
the last several years because of worker safety
considerations. Film coating is often used on seed species
that do not require pelleting (e.g. Brassica sp.) for precision
planting but the seed requires some encapsulation
due to plant protectant application.
 Encapsulation of plant
protectants by film-coating insures a uniformity of
application superior to slurry application, the other method.
Once plant protectants are sealed to the seed, dispersal to
the environment prior to planting is minimized. All the dosage
originally applied to the seed will be available against the
pests in the target environment, and worker exposure to
harmful dusts are minimized. Other advantages of film coating
include:
- increased flowability in the
planter caused by better "slippage" between
individual seeds,
- increased visibility of seed
in the soil, and
- seed treatment
identification by using different colorants.
Some disadvantages of film
coating include:
- plant protectants that
inhibit germination may not be used because of inadequate
separation between the seed and the active chemical,
- seed size and shape and
weight are not altered sufficiently to make a dramatic
difference in plantability, and
- polymers and plasticizers in
the film coating may be toxic or inhibitory to the seed
species - seeds of different species can have different
sensitivities to the same film coating chemical.
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