Hultgreen: Reducing Canola Seed Damage from Metering and Air Distribution Systems
Date: 2005
Term: 1 year
Status: Completed
Researcher(s): Gordon Hultgreen, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI), Humboldt
SaskCanola Investment: $5,000
Total Project Cost: n/a
Funding Partners: ADF
Project Summary
Overall seed damage (physical and germination) due to metering and distribution was less than 10% with no measurable effect from ground or air speed.
In field surveys, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) has discovered that seed canola germination can be reduced by as much as 30% from the air seeder tank to the outlet. As seed costs have increased dramatically over the last years and are likely to further increase with increased market acceptance of hybrid varieties, it is important to find ways to reduce these costs. The objective of this laboratory project was to quantify seed damage through metering and pneumatic delivery of canola and to determine methods of reducing seed damage through the adjustments of metering and air delivery systems.
Bourgault, New Holland (Flexi-Coil), and Conserva-Pak provided air cart/air delivery systems for the project. New Holland supplied a 40 ft (12 m) air drill, while the other two systems used standard air carts with test stands for the distribution system. Each machine was set up for static testing in PAMI’s Crops Processing Centre at Humboldt, Saskatchewan. All machines were configured to factory specifications with representatives from each company present during final set-up and initial testing.
Two varieties of seed, InVigor 5070 certified seed (hybrid) and Advanta HyLite 292 CL certified seed (open pollinated), were used in this test. Check samples were collected as the seed was transferred prior to entering the air cart. Metering system samples were collected using the standard calibration method from each manufacturer at a simulated ground speed of 5 mph (8.0 km/h) and 6 mph (9.7 km/h). The metering system was run for approximately 1 ac (0.4 ha) with both seed varieties. Air cart/air distribution samples were collected in cloth bags or plastic pails (with cloth on the bottom of the pails to absorb impact) at the end of each air distribution hose. Samples from the hoses were combined (following weighing) and divided into subsamples.
2020 Seed Lab in Nisku, Alberta analyzed the samples and conducted tests for physical seed damage and germination. A pre-chilled vigor test was also performed to determine seed performance in sub-optimal growing conditions.
The test results showed that damage in meters and air distribution systems was less than 10% in all circumstances though it varies with seed variety. The hybrid variety was more susceptible to damage compared to the open pollinated variety. Also it is unknown as to why the field samples taken by Canola Council gave different results.
Full Report PDF: Reducing Canola Seed Damage from Metering and Air Distribution Systems