The naked Truth - Raw VS Coated Seed:

Seed coatings have been utilized for many year’s and have shown great advantages especially with legumes such as alfalfa and clovers. By coating legume seed, the seed can be pre-inoculated prior to planting which ensures proper inoculation thus creating healthier more robust plants.

In more recent years many companies have begun coating and treating bermudagrass and other grass seed. Some companies use coating with nutrient fertilizer or fungicides, other claim that their coatings enhance water retention thus enhances germination and establishment.

There is so much debate in the research/professional community concerning the benefits of coated grass seed. Some studies which are sponsored by the seed coaters/seed companies show potential benefits for the coatings, however Independent research has shown that there is little to no significant difference in germination or establishment of bermudagrass using coated seed. Their results confirmed that moisture, environmental conditions and planting procedures have more impact on stand establishment rather than the seed coatings themselves.

So the question is often asked who truly benefits from coated seed. The supplier or the consumer.There is truth that coating bermudagrass seed does add bulk to the seed which improved handling characteristics during planting. It is also a fact that coated seed is also easier to see on the ground during planting which makes it easier to calibrate the spreader/applicator. The down fall to coated seed is that the planting rate must be adjusted possibly doubled to ensure proper seeding rates and plant populations. Some companies who market coated seed claim that it is not necessary to adjust planting rates, however most universities as well as the majority of seed suppliers recommend adjusting seeding rate to offset, the added inert mater.

Below is the general economic breakdown comparing coated and raw seed. For comparison puposes planting rates are set for both raw and coated seed  at a rate of 5 pls/acre, and cost are converted form price per pound to cost per pls (pure live seed). The prices provided are avererage prices and may vary between  retailer or farm store were seed is purchased.

It must also be noted that many proprietary varieties are not available or sold as raw seed. This is true for many of the turf type bermudagrass as well as varieties which are poor seed producers.