Alfalfa seed processing on different equipment

Abstract

For the establishment and exploitation of alfalfa, the seed must be of high purity, germination, and high genetic value. Most of these requirements is realized through processing or removal of foreign matter and seeds of lower quality. Alfalfa seed processing comprises a number of operations from which the most significant are: cleaning, packaging into ambalage, labeling, storage, disinfection and disinsection. In combine harvesting of alfalfa seeds, the obtained material is a mixture of seed of grown plant, seeds of other plants-cultivated and weed, and various impurities of organic and inorganic origin. The task is to remove all foreign matter and various impurities from the natural seed and extract pure grain of primary culture. The importance of processed seed is reflected in the fact that the seed must be prepared for sowing in the most favorable condition, quality and germination. In this study natural alfalfa seed was processed on three different equipment. The aim of this research was to determine relevant parameters of all tested equipment for alfalfa seed processing. Relevant parameters that define the characteristics of equipment for seed processing were: pure seed (%), weed seeds and seeds of other crops (%), inert matter (%), the quantity of processed seed (kg), seed processing time (h), consumption of active energy (kWh) and reactive energy (kVArh), seed losses (%) and output (%). Testing was conducted at the processing center of the Institute of Forage Crops in Globoder-Kruševac, with three replications. Natural alfalfa seed with purity of 78.0%, with an extremely high content of quarantine dodder weed (Cuscuta spp.), was processed. Based on these results it is possible to select an appropriate equipment and optimize and rationalize the alfalfa seed processing.