The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed .

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a specific type of mixture for use in seed pelleting application comprising of natural and inert materials which helps to increase the size of small seeds and which absorbs water and permits germination at par with control seeds.

Background and Prior art of the Invention

There are various types of mixtures comprising of various materials in specific ratio, both inert and biologically active used in coating of seeds to increase the shape of the seeds so that it can be handled better and also provides the nutrients required for germination and growth. The coating material for the seeds comprising a material having a fiber like crystal structure with >=20 of aspect ratio , an inorganic material having an average particle diameter of 0.1-75{mum)m and a water-repellant , wherein the coating material characteristically contains 01 .-30 pts wt of the material having the fiber like crystal structure[JP 2005097309A(SUMITOMO)]. The coating agent for granulating small seeds consisting of coating mixture comprising a mixture of 55-85 wt % of plum stone, 5-15 wt % of ash of coal briquette and 5-10% of gum Arabic solution as an adhesive [ KR20000058923A(SEO HONG RYEOL)] . The seed coating composition for a seed comprises water and at least 35 wt.% by weight of the coating composition of inorganic particles, wherein the mean particle size (D50) of said inorganic particles as measured by laser obscuration time technology is 250 pm or less EP 2229808A1 (INCOTEC).

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to develop a pelleting mixture with locally available inert materials , so to develop indigenous seed pelleting technology, to achieve seed germination characteristics at par with the control seeds, at a lower, cost compared to imported technology.

Statement of the Invention

The process of mustard seed pelleting with newly developed indigenous pelleting mixture comprises of following steps:

a) Weighing the required amount of the two identified inert materials

b) Thorough mixing of the weighed quantity of two identified inert materials in predetermined ratio.

c) Pelleting of mustard seeds by spray wetting and dusting of seeds with predetermined quantities of pelleting mixture, alternatively to achieve desired size, shape and weight of seed pellets.

Summary of the Invention

The invention utilizes locally available inert material in specific ratio which on application to seeds in specific method in combination with adhesive enables pelleting of seeds to attain increased and uniform seed size and weight and uniform seed shape which enables better handling of other wise small mustard seeds.

Brief descriptions of the drawings

Fig 1. Schematically Illustrate the pelleting steps for mustard seed with details of quantity of pelleting materials to be added, layer wise.

Fig 2 and 3 Illustrate in tabular form and graphical representation the effect of seed pelleting on speed and uniformity of seed germination as well as final mustard seed germination.

Detailed description of the drawings

Fig 1. Is a flow chart illustrating the seed pelleting sequence involved in pelleting of seeds

The seed pelleting process involves alternate spraying and dusting of seeds until the pellet reaches the required size. In order to automize the seed pelleting process , experiments were conducted to standardize the volume of water sprayed (to wet the seeds ) and amount of pelleting mixture dusted in each step right from raw seeds until the pellet reaches the required size of 3 mm. This is very important to quicken the process of pelleting and also to retain the quality of seed pellet interms of optimum hardness , speed of germination as well as seed germination percentage. These characteristics are decided by the volume of water sprayed and the amount of dust added in each step. In order to optimize the same, the many sequences were tried and the pellets were observed for cracking, hardness , speed of germination as well as germination percentage besides time required for seed pelleting. The final sequence for pelleting 15 g of mustard seeds are depicted herein as flow chart (Fig 1).

Steps in seed pelleting

1. First prepare the pelleting mixture by through mixing of Chalk powder (7 g): Hydrate of silica (4 g) (= 1 unit of pelleting mixture). For pelleting 50 g of seeds mix 175 g of Chalk powder and 100 g of Hydrate of silica.

2. Measured quantity (15 g) of mustard seeds are fed into the Pelleting pan.

3. The seeds are wetted with the help of a fine spray of water.

4. The pan is tightly closed with the lid and rotated in a vertical circular manner to bounce the seeds to the required level.

5. The seeds are once again wetted with the fine spray of water to reach the required level of wetting.

6. Once again the wet seeds are bounced by rotating the handle for uniform wetting.

7. Later, the lid is opened and the measured quantity of pelleting mixture is fed into the vessel.

8. The pan is once again closed and bounced to the required level.

9. The entire seed pelleting process involves totally 18 cycles of wetting and dusting.

10. For the first six layers 2 g of inert pelleting mixture is added for dusting purpose. In the next six layers, 4 g of powder is added. This is followed by sieving of pellets with 2.5 mm sieve. This is followed by 4 layers with 6 g of pelleting mixture. For the last 2 layers 3 g of pelleting mixture is added .

11. For adhesion of pelleting mixture to seeds , spraying of water is adopted for first two layers, for rest of the layers Gum Arabic (4%) was sprayed on seeds in sufficient quantities.

12. Finally, the pellets are sieved with 3mm sieve and the recovered pellets are subjected to sufficient drying in shade.

The pellets should be immediately transferred to a tray to allow it to dry quickly. Improper drying of pellets will expose the seeds to higher humidity which will lead to pellet cracking.

Fig 2 and 3 Illustrate in tabular form and graphical representation the effect of new invention seed pelleting on speed and uniformity of seed germination as well as final seed germination.

Hybrid mustard seed was taken and the seed pelleting was done using three combinations of chalk powder :hydrate of silica in the ratio of 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1. In another combination diatomaceous earth: hydrate of silica in the ratio 3 :1 was taken and used. Pelleting of seeds was done by spray wetting and dusting the seeds with small quantities of pelleting mixture alternatively and four types of pellets were made by adopting the variation in the composition of pelleting mixture as stated above.

All the four types of pellets were subjected to germination test along with control seeds of hybrid mustard seeds. Observations were made on

1. Radicle protrusion
2. Days for 50% germination
3. Days for maximum germination
4. Speed of germination and
5.Germination percentage

Data were analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) as a factorial combination of treatments. Means were separated on the basis of least significant difference (LSD) only if F test of ANOVA for treatments was significant at the 0.05 or 0.01 probability level. Percentage data were arcsine transformed before analysis.

The results revealed that both chalk powder : hydrate of silica @ 2:1 ratio and diatomaceous earth : hydrate of silica @ 3:1 recorded the highest speed of germination and germination percentage among the four pelleting mixture combinations.

Claims

What is claimed is :

1. A mixture of inert materials like diatomaceous clay, chalk powder and hydrate of silica mixed in a specific ratio, which on application to seeds by alternate wetting and dusting of seeds forms uniform sized pellets which have increased size and weight , facilitating better handling and optimum germination.

2. A mixture in the said ratio when applied to seeds and dried gives the required cracking for facilitating easy germination of the seeds, on absorption of moisture when sown in an appropriate medium.

3. The pellets of seeds in case of small sized mustard seeds improves the size for better handling.

4. A process using the mixture in claim 1 by alternate spraying and dusting of seeds until the pellet reaches the required size.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4 in which a binding agent like 4% gum arable is used to make the particles adhere with each other and form uniform shape and size.