The present invention enables/provides an improved seed/seedling mat, in particular a rice seedling mat, intended to optimise mat utility. The invention further provides materials with particular characteristics, and the use of such materials in seedling mats, as well as component layers made from such materials, and which may be incorporated into seedling mats. One such component is a compressed mulch mat, which serves as a seed cover component within an assembled seedling mat, and acts to shield seeds from environmental factors (e.g. ambient radiation, temperature, birds and insects) while promoting consistent seedling germination and growth and potentially also providing moisture and nutrition. The invention also employs hot melt adhesive in the preparation of a seed/seedling mat, as well as in the preparation of components for such a seedling mat. The invention further extends to methods of making such seedling mats, and/or component layers, and in particular to methods of making rooting substrate components and/or seed cover components for use within such seedling mats.本新型提供了旨在優化墊實用性之改進的種子墊/秧苗墊，特別是水稻秧苗墊，或使之可行。本新型進一步提供了具有特定特徵之材料和此類材料在秧苗墊中之用途，以及由此類材料製成且可以被摻入秧苗墊中的元件層。一種這樣的元件係壓縮的覆蓋物墊，其充當組裝的秧苗墊內的種子覆蓋元件，並且起作用以保護種子免遭環境因素(例如，環境輻射、溫度、鳥類及昆蟲)影響，同時促進一致的秧苗發芽與生長並且還潛在地提供水分和營養。本新型在種子墊/秧苗墊的製備中以及在用於此種秧苗墊的元件的製備中還利用熱熔性黏合劑。本新型進一步涉及製造此類秧苗墊和/或元件層之方法，並且特別是涉及製造用於在此類秧苗墊內使用的生根基板元件和/或種子覆蓋元件之方法。
