GB694007A - Improvements in seed pellets and in the manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Seed pellets are produced by applying to the seeds a water-permeable binder e.g. vegetable glues or animal glues adapted to be swollen by water and particles of cork or similar cellulosic or ligneous materials of vegetable origin. A dense ingredient e.g. sand may be incorporated in the binder. The coating may comprise several sections of increasing diameters, in particular an inner section where the sand may be incorporated, and an outer section which contains cork particles but no sand particles. Additional ingredients such as fertilizers, growth stimulants, insecticides, anticryptogamics and the like may also be incorporated. In an Example 3 kgs. of beetroot seeds divided into segments are placed in a spherical container which is rotated at a rate of about 25 revs. per minute whilst a gluey liquid consisting of 1 litre of water to which have been added 20 grams of the gluten glue sold under the name "N.L.T. glue" is sprinkled on until when about 300 cc. of liquid have been added there are added 250 grams of "Fontainebleau" sand. The resulting seed pellets are removed from the container, sifted through a sieve with circular meshes of 3.75 mm. the pellets passing through being returned to the apparatus where the binder and sand are added as before until all the pellets are retained on the sieve. All the pellets are then placed in a large container into which 300 cc. of the above glue solution are sprayed and 40 grams of cork meal are sprinkled alternately, these operations being repeated until the pellets formed are retained by a 5 mm. mesh screen, the pellets being then dried e.g. in a hot air rotary drier the temperature not being allowed to exceed 80 DEG C.