Seed Testing Methods For Coated Seed

SEED TESTING METHODS FOR COATED SEED (OR) PELLETED SEED:

SEED TESTING METHODS FOR COATED SEED (OR) PELLETED SEED Manikandan.V V.MANIKANDAN B.Tech( Agricultural Engineering ) College Of Agricultural Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, Tiruchirapalli-621712 Seed testing is performed in dedicated laboratories by trained and usually certified analysts. The tests are designed to evaluate the quality of the seed lot being sold.

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GERMINATION TEST: - Reports the percentage of seed that germinated. Tests are usually made in 200 or 400 seed samples. PURITY TEST: - The percentage of seed described on the label that is actually found in the quantity of seed. WEED TEST:- Examines a sample of seed and identifies every seed that is different from the labeled seed kind. TZ TEST:- A test for viability that involves soaking the seed in a tetrazolium solution, cutting the seed open, and looking for a color change in the seed embryo. COATED SEED HISTORY First were developed for cereal seeds in the 1930's by Germains, a British seed company. Large scale commercial use of coating began in the 1960's with precision sowing for the European greenhouse transplant industry. When California outlawed the short handled hoe in the mid 1970's, the use of coated  seed for precision field seeders increased.

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COUTED SEED Seed coating is a process designed to create a nutritious environment in the immediate vicinity of the germinating seed. This provides a "boost" for the seedling in its critical early stages of development. It was readily accepted by most users and now has a definite role to play in Canadian agriculture WHY IS SEED COATED? The six most important reasons why we coat seed are: l. Pre-inoculation of legumes 2. Nutrient benefits 3. Protection from stress conditions 4. To improve ballistic properties and simplify seeding 5. Safe application of agricultural chemicals 6. Protection from rodents, birds and the harmful effects of some fertilizers. SEED COATING AIM Seed coating aims to influence the external physical properties of the seed, affecting the sowing characteristics only. By itself an ideal coating would be neutral in its influence on the speed. uniformity and percentage of germination when compared to the original raw seed lot. The ideal seed coating would perform in the same manner as the raw seed under a wide range of environmental conditions.light , moisture, temperature, pH, soil type etc.

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MULTI-COATED SEEDS Multi-coated seeds having two or more coating layers, with the innermost coating layer containing a water repellent such as a fatty acid or a metal salt thereof in higher concentration than the other layer(s). TYPES OF SEED COATING MELT COATING The melt coats dissolve when wet and gradually wash away from around the seed. The melt coats often require more water to wash the coating material away from the seed. More time for the oxygen to reach the seed through the saturated coating material. Melt coats may offer advantages when soils are saturated , but oxygen availability always influences the speed, uniformity and total percentage of germination. 2) SPLIT COATING Split coats initially retain their shape when wet and , by capillary action, pass moisture through the pill to be imbibed by the seed. The seed swells and cracks the pill by internal turgor pressure. The split coat often permits germination with less water, as they split, allow uniform, rapid oxygen access to the surface of the seed.

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TESTING OF COATED SEED Coated seed is a seed unit covered with any substance which changes the size, shape, or weight or the original seed. Seeds coated with ingredients such as, but not limited to rhizoid, Dyes, And pesticides arc excluded. (A) SIZE OF LOT: The maximum number of seeds that a lot may contain isI,OOO,OOO.except that the weight of the lot, includll1gthe coating material may not exceed 42,000 kg (40,000 kg plus 5(%) (B) SAMPLING INTCNSITY :- Sampling of the lot should he done an:oruing to theintensity appropriate to the particular lot as described Samples of coated seed shall be sent 10 the laboralory in moisture proofcontainers in such a manner 10avoid damage to Ihe pellets during handling andtransport.

Sampling in the Laboratory:

Sampling in the Laboratory Table Sample sizes of pelleted seed Determination Submiued samples not less than number of pellets Working samples not less than number of Pellets 1. Purity Analysis including verification ~f species 7500 2500 2. .Weightdetermination 7500 Pure pellet fraction 3. Germination 7500 400 4.Determination of other seeds 10000 7500 5.Size grading 10000 2000

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Seed Coating Equipment Rotary pelleting equipment:- Diameter 300 mm. This pelleting machine is suitable for the semi automatic pelleting of small seed lots of flower-, vegetable- and agricultural seeds. The machine pellets a seed lot in batches. The seed batches should be weighed manually and manually be discharged in the pelleting. SEED FILM COATING EQUIPMENT:- This semi automatic film coating machine is used for treating small quantities of seeds manually. Using film coating liquids mixed with water and/or fungicides (or other), the seeds are treated uniformly in this batch system. The treating time per batch is very short in this rotary film coating system, which makes it a fast system.

What kind of seed can be coated? :

What kind of seed can be coated? Virtually any kind of seed can be coated. However Precision Seed Coaters and its sister company Canadian Seed Coaters specialize in the following species: Canola Alfalfa Clovers Trefoil Other legumes Bermudagrass Orchardgrass Timothy Native grasses Bentgrass Bromegrass Foxtail Bluegrass Fescues Ryegrasses Centipede Dichondra Advantages of a Coated Seed The most apparent is the visibility of the seeds. The coated seed allows the seed to be seen on the ground, this means a more even seeding which will lead to a more even bed of colorful blossoms the whole season long. The coating also helps keep the smaller seeds from separating from large seeds during seeding, which again means that the beds will be more uniform throughout the season. The seed can be spread with a "cyclone" type spreader to make spreading seeds easier and more uniform. There is no need to mix with sand, sawdust or other material, which will save time and money. Another advantage is that to the best of our knowledge, the birds will not eat coated seed. We believe it is the color more so than the taste, birds do not associate the colored seeds with edible seeds.

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Coated Lawnseed Protection of seedlings Easy to sow Protection from wind Protection from birds Coated seed is the future. It allows and increases the ability to use on a variety of surfaces and in extreme situations, it minimises soil cultivation requirements and provides for a reduction of irrigation, as well as the coating giving a controlled application of fertilizer and plant protection agents. SEED COATED FUTURE

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Thank you Manikandan.V