Some physico-mechanical properties of carrot (Daucus carota L.), cherry belle (Rhaphanus sativus L.) and nigella (Nigella sativa L.) seeds coated with pellets

Abstract

Seed growing has recently become significantly important in agriculture. Preparing the seeds to coat for plantation and using the coated seeds for plantation has brought about new perspectives in farming. Shape, size and one thousand seeds mass are among the most effective criteria for the success of seed coating. In this study; cherry belle, carrot and nigella seeds which have different sizes and shapes together with one thousand seeds mass and seedling emergence were studied. For this purpose, a seed coating equipment was designed, produced and analyzed through a horizontally shaped boiler. In the designed equipment, the seeds were coated in the form of approximately 2 mm diameter in order to pellet accordance with the ISTA norms. As the results of the performed tests show that; cherry belle was coated %99, nigella seed %99 and carrot seed %97. As for the seedling emergence; cherry belle germinated %95, nigella seed %17 and carrot %75. The results of the analysis indicate that the types of the seeds used in the test can be achieved by pneumatic plantation machine. But the nigella seeds did not show enough seedling emergence. It should be noted that carrots and nigella seeds aren't spherical. If carrots and nigella seeds are pelleted, the sphericity will increase up to 40-60%. By pelleting seeds their physico-mechanical properties will be more homogeneous.