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SEED PROCESSING
The process of removal of dockage in a seed lot and preparation of seed for marketing is called seed processing. The price and quality of seed is inversely related to dockage, which should not exceed a maximum level permitted for different crops for seed certification.
Due to the operation of processing the level of heterogeneity of seed lot gets narrowed down.
The heterogeneity occurs in a seed lot due to following reasons:
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Variability in soil for fertility, physical, chemical and biological properties
- Variability in management practices (irrigation, application of nutrients etc.)
- Variability in ability of the seedling for utilizing the inputs
- Variability in pest and disease infestation
- Position of pod or fruit in a plant or the position of seed in a pod.
Principle of seed processing: the processing operation carried out based on the principle of physical differences found in a seed lot.
Physical difference |
Suitable machineries |
| Seed size – varied from small to bold |
Air screen cleaner cum grader |
| Density- ill filled, immature to well Matured light weight to dense seed |
Specific gravity separator |
| Shape – round to oval and different shapes |
Spiral separator |
| Surface texture – smooth to wrinkled and rough |
Roll mill / dodder mill |
| Colour of the seed – light color to dark colors |
Electronic color shorter |
| Conductivity of seed – low to high |
Electronic separator |
Requirement in seed processing
- There should be complete separation
- There should be minimum seed loss
- Upgrading should be possible for any particular quality
- There should be have more efficiency
- It should have only minimum requirement
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