Development and Application of the Intelligent Seed Processing Technology and Equipment

Seed processing is an important link in the seed industry chain. Crop seed industry is a national strategic and basic core of industry. Drying, cleaning, selecting, grading, coating, packaging and storage of crop seeds are the main measures to realize the precision sowing of crops and the increase of grain yield and income. Continuously improving the intelligence and fi ne level of seed processing equipment is of great signifi cance to ensure the production and supply of excellent seeds and the stability of agricultural production. This paper describes the development status of modern seed processing equipment technology in China, introduces the establishment of seed processing equipment engineering technology research center, taking maize, rice, wheat and cotton seed processing technology and machinery as an example, describes the key technologies and technological process of the breakthrough in the major crop seed processing, analyzes the existing problems of seed processing equipment in China at this stage as well as the development trend in the future, provides a reference for government decision makers in resolving the problem of mechanical damage in the process of seed processing and further improving the intellectualization level of seed processing, promotes the common progress of the global seed processing equipment technology.

Standardization of optimum sieve size for maximizing seed quality in Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.)

Vegetables have a critical function in human health and nutritional security. Vegetables are considered an essential building block of any diet. Out of the leafy vegetables, Amaranthus is the most popular and salable vegetable consumed by people all over India. Seed processing experiment was undertaken in Amaranthus tricolor (CO 2) by using the sieves placed inside the mechanical seed shaker (Gyratory sieve shaker) to improve the quality of Amaranthus seeds. The seeds of Amaranthus were size graded with seed shaker attached with various sieve size of BSS 18 X18 (R), BSS 20 X 20 (R), BSS 22 X 22 (R) and BSP 22 X 22 (P). During processing, the machine could be adjusted for 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes with an oscillating speed of 1440 rpm. The separated seeds were evaluated for seed quality characteristics such as seed germination percentage, shoot length, root length, dry matter production, 1000 seed weight and seed recovery percentage. The results revealed that the sieve size of BSS 22 X 22 (R=retained) mesh sieve had the better quality seeds with a maximum recovery of 67.41 g and when it is operated for a period of 5 minutes. The germination percentage was improved from 77 % to 95 % with 1000 seed weight of 73.21 mg, and the observed recovery was 56 per cent with the vigour index of 1145. Hence, BSS 22 X 22 retained mesh sieve with a duration of 5 minutes could be recommended as an optimum sieve size for grading Amaranthus seeds for improving the seed quality.

Differential response of commercial hybrid and open pollinated maize seeds to mechanical damage during seed processing

Hybrids and open pollinated varieties (OPVs) are two commercial maize seed types cultivated in Nigeria. Information on their response to mechanical damage during processing is limited. This study is thus aimed at assessing the response of hybrids and OPVs of maize seeds to mechanical damage which would facilitate fabrication of processing facilities suitable for either of the maize types. Six maize varieties: three hybids (‘New Kaduna’, ‘SDM-1’, and ‘JO-195’) and three OPVs (‘Sammaz 15’, ‘Sammaz 27’ and ‘Suwan-1-stry’) were used for the study. The seed samples were subjected to standard germination, seedling vigour analysis, accelerated ageing, conductivity and fast green tests. The result showed that all the hybrid seed varieties had more damaged seeds than their OPVs counterpart. Shoot length and root length were more affected than other parts of the seedling. There were differences in the magnitude of electrolyte leakage as well as in what time each seed type (hybrid or OPVs) passed through the phases with ‘JO-195’ having the highest rate of electrolyte leakage. Hybrid seeds had lower resistance to mechanical damage and poorer storability when compared with the OPVs. In the overall, for all the traits, ‘Sammaz 15’, the best among OPVs was more promising when compared with ‘SDM-1’ which was the best among hybrid varieties. Processing machine equipment and accessories that are suitable for hybrid seeds might be inappropriate for conditioning OPVs.

The Exploitation of a Hempseed Byproduct to Produce Flavorings and Healthy Food Ingredients by a Fermentation Process

Following the One Health principles in food science, the challenge to valorize byproducts from the industrial sector is open. Hemp (Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa) is considered an important icon of sustainability and as an alternative food source. Hemp seed bran, in particular, is a byproduct of industrial hemp seed processing, which is not yet valorized. The success, and a wider market diffusion of hemp seed for food applications, is hindered by its unpleasant taste, which is produced by certain compounds that generally overwhelm the pleasant bouquet of the fresh product. This research concerns the exploration of hemp seed bran through fermentation using beneficial lactobacilli, focusing on the sensorial and bioactive traits of the products when they are subjected to bacterial transformation. By studying of the aromatic profile formation during the fermentation process the aim was to modulate it in order to reduce off-odors without affecting the presence of healthy volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Applying multivariate analyses, it was possible to target the contribution of processing parameters to the generation of flavoring and bioactive compounds. To conclude, the fermentation process proposed was able to reduce unpleasant VOCs, whilst at the same time keeping the healthy ones, and it also improved nutritional quality, depending on time and bacterial starters. The fermentation proposed was a sustainable biotechnological approach that fitted perfectly with the valorization of hemp byproducts from the perspective of a green-oriented industrial process that avoids synthetic masking agents.

Physical properties and processing of Silphium integrifolium seeds to obtain oil and enriched protein meal

Silphium integrifolium Michx. (Silflower) has been a promising subject for domestication as a perennial oilseed crop. This work was carried out to investigate the seed processing aspect of this effort. Selected physical properties of the seed were evaluated, seed milling to obtain enriched kernel fraction was conducted, and initial characterization of the seed protein was performed. There was wide variation in flat seed length (11.54 to 20.75 mm), width (4.61 to 11.76 mm), and thickness (0.92 to 1.63 mm). The thousand seed weight was 23.8 g but the tapped bulk density was only 189.58 g/L due to the presence of wing around the seed’s periphery. The kernel accounted for 56.14% of the seed weight and contained 31.00% oil. An enriched kernel fraction with 79.6% purity was obtained by roller-milling, sifting, and air classification. Linoleic (62.3%) and oleic (19.62%) acids were the major fatty acids in the oil. The defatted enriched kernel fraction contained 63.41% crude protein. Globulin, glutelin, albumin, and prolamin accounted for 55.63%, 19.28%, 16.38%, and 8.71% of the soluble proteins, respectively. At an extraction pH of 9, protein solubility was 62%. Maximum solubility (70%) was obtained at pH 10 while minimum solubility of 9% occurred between pH 4 and 5.5. Aside from the oil, the dehulling of silflower seeds also produced a high-protein defatted meal, which may be used as is or as a starting material for enriching the protein further into a protein isolate.

Evaluation of effectiveness various seed processing combination technique to produce True Shallot Seed (TSS) with good quality

The seed processing technique is essential to maintain quality and suppress seed deterioration rate as long as processing time. This research aims to evaluate various seed processing combination techniques to produce TSS with good quality. The study was conducted at Indonesian Vegetables Research Institute, Lembang (1,250 m sal) from March until December 2018. The research used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatment consisted of 12 combinations of seed processing, including the technique of drying, capsule breaking, and sorting. The research result showed that the best treatment was a combination technique with umbels drying in the room at RH 50 % and 30-35°C for 72 hours, breaking capsule by hand manually, and seed sorting by winnower followed by hand manually. The produced seed quality in this treatment showed the seed germination was 75%, the moisture content was 7.5%, and the physical purity was 99.9%. This research implies that the availability of TSS processing technology can be carried out by massal, but still can produce good seed quality.

The increase of egg productivity of laying hens when using non-traditional feed and biologically active additives

In poultry farming, feed remains the most expensive part and farmers are constantly trying to optimize diets, both in terms of price and nutrition, so that the poultry can realize its genetic potential. Such feeding diets should maintain the highest productivity of poultry in a normal state of health; contribute to improving the quality of products and reducing the cost of its production. The purpose of the work was the theoretical and experimental justification of the use of new varieties of sorghum, chickpeas, mustard seed processing products, as well as targeted formulations of biologically active additives (premixes, PVMC, NutoVit additive) based on local feed sources, increasing the nutritional value of compound feed, reducing their cost, increasing egg productivity and obtaining complete food and incubation chicken eggs. The nutritional value of a new variety of chickpeas Privo 1, sorghum Kamyshinskoe 75 with different levels of their input into compound feed instead of sunflower presscake and corn grain for young birds and laying hens, respectively, has been studied in the paper. The effectiveness of using different levels of mustard seed processing products – feed concentrate from vegetable raw materials Sarepta and mustard protein-containing feed concentrate Gorlinka in feeding of laying hens instead of the traditionally used sunflower seed presscake and meal. The influence of the premix and the protein-vitamin concentrate Gorlinka based on the products of processing mustard seeds and the additive NutoVit in the composition of compound feed for chickens of the parent and industrial herd has been determined. The use of non-traditional feed and biologically active additives in the diets of young birds and laying hens has a positive effect on the growth and development of young animals, egg productivity of laying hens and egg quality, as well as increases the efficiency of production.

A Study on Decision Making Ability and Participation in Various Agriculture Activities Performed by Farm Women in Khargone District of M.P

The role of women has always been a multi-dimensional and significant as women have performed well in case of agricultural activities, domestic activities, marketing activities as far as labour requirement is considered. The decision-making process is an important segment of every household because the functioning of family resource management depends on the efficiency of decision-making progress. So, women involvement in decision-making process has been of great importance because sampling method to make a sample of 120 respondents. Hence finally the sampling consisted of 120 respondents. More number of farm women were found to have level of decision making process: the highest decision making behavior in sowing followed by winnowing process, seed processing, irrigation management , collection of harvested crop, storage, field preparation, selection of seed/variety, marketing, Manures and fertilizer application, weeding, harvesting, seed treatment, Pest and disease management and soil testing.