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The closest substitutes for the rotary stinger
are hand tools (augers, planting bars and shovels). The methods are cost
effective in easily accessible terrain. However, where soils are rocky,
compacted, wet or when the site is very steep, these methods are not
competitive with stinger technology.
Although a backhoe might perform in conditions similar to those of the
rotary stinger, the backhoe creates significantly more adverse
environmental impact. The stinger only opens a hole large enough for the
planting vs. the larger planting hole created by a backhoe. A backhoe cannot
be used to plant riprap.
When planted by the stinger, a plant's roots are protected in a
plastic
(biodegradable) sheath, surrounded by a precise nutritional and microbial
mix. They are planted deep, closer to groundwater, yielding survival rates
higher than plants inserted by other means. The rotary stinger can plant at
the hourly production rate of four experienced hand-planters planting 10
cubic inch containers on most terrain. However, the stinger can plant 180
cubic inch plant containers (with correspondingly higher survival rates). If
the planting rates of the stinger and hand planters are compared for the 180
cubic inch containers, the rotary stinger plants at the hourly production
rate of 8-10 experienced planters.