A high efficiency of sowing grain crops by ears was noted in breeding and primary seed production. It was found that a seeder with working bodies for sowing by ears helps to significantly (up to 8 times) reduce labor intensity as well as maintain the variety purity in comparison with the use of manual labor.Research purpose To develop a seeder working section with a tape-cassette sowing device for sowing grain crops by ears in breeding and seed nurseries, and to substantiate the sowing device parameters necessary for the design of a multi-section grain seeder.Materials and methods In the course of the experiments, the authors proposed a schematic diagram, a program and a method for testing a cassette seeder working section for sowing by ears.  A sample of the seed section was examined in the laboratory. The ways of ensuring the variety purity in conditions of grain natural shedding were studied. A technology of sowing ears in capsules was used.Results and discussion It was proposed to equip the seeder cassette sowing device with a device for pushing the capsule with the ear out of the cassette tape cell. A mock-up model of a spiked seed drill section was developed. The operation of the tape-cassette sowing device was checked.Conclusions The advisable parameters of the cassette tape cells specified are as follows: the inner diameter is 2.3-2.5 centimeters, the length is 14.0-16.5 centimeters, the distance between the axes is 3-4 centimeters. A formula for calculating the number of cells in a cassette tape was obtained depending on the number of tape turns in the cassette. The initial requirements and terms of reference were developed for the experimental sample of the grain drill section. The data were summarized to design a multi-section seeder for sowing with ears.

Abstract. Low-level mechanization is one of the main reasons for the high costs in selection and primary seed production. Crop breeders use transport and loading facilities for seed material transporting in an unsystematic manner. (Research purpose) Development of technology of transport support in selection and seed production, including all transport and loading processes of the delivery of grain seeds from selection combines to storage facilities using containers for seed collection, transportation, drying, and storage. (Materials and methods) The authors have described a container flowtransport technology of selection grain harvesting at the stage of primary reproduction and developed a machine complex technology and a database of harvesting and transport machines for seed collection, transportation, drying, and storage. (Results and discussion) The authors have determined the type of transport and loading means for the container method of seed harvesting, transportation and storage recommended for use in selection and seed production. There are four distinctive novelty positions of the presented type: the ability to transport containers in 2 rows; increased loading height from 2 m to 3 m; maximum operating radius reaches 3.8 m (vs. 2.7 m); increased cargo capacity – by 460 kg. (Conclusions) The authors suggest using the developed methodology to improve the technological process of harvesting, transportation and postharvest processing of seed grain, organize this process, as well as select machine parameters and technical equipment on the farms of the Central region of Russia. It has been suggested that test prototypes of containers and a loader with a container tilter should be designed and manufactured for use in primary crop processing.