Engineering development of a specialized seeder for the mechanized restoration of degraded pastures in Uzbekistan.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a mechanized approach for restoring degradednatural pastures in the arid regions of Uzbekistan through the sowing of native drought-resistantdesert plants.The study focused on saxaul, cherkez, and izen (prutnyak), selected for their adaptationto dry conditions and potential for improving vegetation cover and stabilizing degraded sandy soils.Field and laboratory investigations were conducted to assess seed quality and evaluate a specializedseeder developed for the mechanized sowing of saxaul and izen seed material. The proposedseeding technology and technical solutions are protected by Republic of Uzbekistan Patents No.FAP 2670 and FAP 3044. The experimental results showed that the prepared seed material had apurity of 20–25% and a germination capacity of 40–45%. The developed seeder was designed toprovide continuous seed flow, controlled seed placement, and uniform distribution under sandy-soilconditions while accounting for the specific physical and mechanical properties of the seed material.The findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of using specialized mechanized seeding equipmentfor establishing native desert vegetation on degraded pasturelands. The proposed approach providesa technological basis for improving vegetation establishment, reducing soil exposure to degradation,and supporting the restoration of arid and semi-arid pasture ecosystems.