Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Chaffy grass seeds have handling problems which detract from their commercial usefulness. They are relatively light and bulky, and do not flow freely because individual units tend to become entangled. Cone threshing was investigated as a means of processing chaffy grass seeds to improve their handling characteristics. In Andropogon gayanus cv. Kent, Bothriochloa insculpta cv. Hatch, and Bothriochloa pertusa, processing removed awns, sterile florets, and some surface hairs from the normal dispersal units. This facilitated cleaning to increase analytical purity with little or no reduction in viability, even after storage for up to 20 months. About 50-60% of caryopses were removed from Chloris gayana seed by the same method, again with little or no apparent reduction in viability after 12-18 months. The semi-commercial use of cone threshing to treat 450 kg of B. insculpta seed was also monitored. Cleaned seed quality was again improved mainly in terms of analytical purity. There was little or no immediate effect on viability, although germination tests 25 months after processing suggested slightly more rapid deterioration than in untreated control samples. Provided seed does not contain excessive weed seeds and is pre-cleaned to remove straw before cone threshing, subsequent cleaning can be largely restricted to aspiration. This sequence produces less bulky, higher quality seed that flows more readily. As a result, purity testing is faster and easier, storage and transport costs are reduced, and seed can be distributed more uniformly during sowing.
Citation
Loch, D S.; Harding, W.A T.; and Harvey, G L., "Improved Handling of Chaffy Grass Seeds Through Cone Threshing" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 34.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses2/34)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Improved Handling of Chaffy Grass Seeds Through Cone Threshing
Kyoto Japan
Chaffy grass seeds have handling problems which detract from their commercial usefulness. They are relatively light and bulky, and do not flow freely because individual units tend to become entangled. Cone threshing was investigated as a means of processing chaffy grass seeds to improve their handling characteristics. In Andropogon gayanus cv. Kent, Bothriochloa insculpta cv. Hatch, and Bothriochloa pertusa, processing removed awns, sterile florets, and some surface hairs from the normal dispersal units. This facilitated cleaning to increase analytical purity with little or no reduction in viability, even after storage for up to 20 months. About 50-60% of caryopses were removed from Chloris gayana seed by the same method, again with little or no apparent reduction in viability after 12-18 months. The semi-commercial use of cone threshing to treat 450 kg of B. insculpta seed was also monitored. Cleaned seed quality was again improved mainly in terms of analytical purity. There was little or no immediate effect on viability, although germination tests 25 months after processing suggested slightly more rapid deterioration than in untreated control samples. Provided seed does not contain excessive weed seeds and is pre-cleaned to remove straw before cone threshing, subsequent cleaning can be largely restricted to aspiration. This sequence produces less bulky, higher quality seed that flows more readily. As a result, purity testing is faster and easier, storage and transport costs are reduced, and seed can be distributed more uniformly during sowing.
