Seed Ball - an innovative & economic way of growing plants ensuring their survival

Date: 06.03.2017              Venue: G. Venkataswamy Naidu College.

Seed Ball is an innovative way to grow plants.  It basically consists of a mixture of red soil (mud) and cow dung mixed with other bio compost.  The semi solid mix is prepared by adding little water proportionate to the quantity of mixture after which a particular plant seed is inserted in it.  These seed balls are allowed to dry in the sun and stored to be used later. These seed balls are thrown near roads, lakes, ponds so that they sprout and become plants and eventually trees that help in capturing and retention of rain water.  A seed ball provides the required moisture imbibed from rain water and manure for the seed to germinate, nurture and eventually grow as a tree.  Besides tree seed, seeds of coarse grains/vegetable and Tulsi seeds have also been mixed. When Tulsi grows it gives pure oxygen simultaneously the coarse grains  are used for birds and cattle. When you plant a sapling, it needs watering, shelter for protection from grazing cattle etc.  Despite that, the success rate of the survival of the plant is only 10%.  “Where as in the case of Seed Ball it is more than 50%”.  This seed ball throwing programme was inaugurated by our College Principal i/c Mrs. G. Adhilakshmi, on the inaugural day nearly 1500 seed balls were thrown on the road side. A sweet ball fills the stomach but a seed ball feeds a seed to become a successful plant.  Conservation of Nature is the need of the hour and we hope that this simple yet committed effort by our NSS volunteers pay off in the long run for future generation.