RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A low-cost modification to a Flail-Vac Harvester for collecting lightweight, wind-dispersed seed
JF Native Plants Journal
JO NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 103
OP 108
DO 10.3368/npj.17.2.103
VO 17
IS 2
A1 David B Simonson
A1 Derek J Tilley
YR 2016
UL http://npj.uwpress.org/content/17/2/103.abstract
AB Indeterminate wildflowers with pappus-bearing seed are difficult to effectively harvest at yields approaching maximum potential using traditional equipment. We modified a Flail-Vac Seed Stripper by mounting heavy loops of chain to the front of the Flail-Vac to provide agitation of the floral canopy to disarticulate seed from the flowers of hoary tansyaster (Machaeranthera canescens (Pursh) A. Gray [Asteraceae]). The modification allowed for multiple, non-damaging harvests that collected only shatter-ready, fully ripe seed. Labor and time associated with post-harvest drying and seed cleaning were reduced because of the decrease in vegetative matter accumulated.