engleski

Losses of alfalfa seed during seed production and processing

Losses of alfalfa seed produced may reach considerable level, if we fail to perform some necessary cultural practices at its production.Some important measures to control the level of seed losses include the following:weed and pest control, desiccation in the morning and in the evening, application of proper implements to combine-harvester, its proper adjustments, timely commencing alfalfa harvest, adjustments of the rotation number of cylinder to moisture content of the seed in the course of the day, proper choice of the cleaners and their adjustment to the alfalfa seed properties.During our investigations, we found the presence of weed seed which separated hard from the seed of alfalfa.Among the species of Cuscuta spp, Cuscuta trifolii Bab. and C.campestris Yuncker were found to be the most frequent weed in alfalfa.The application of the preparation Kerb 50 gave satisfactory results with regard to their control.During harvesting seed plots under alfalfa, losses ranged from 0, 40 to 5, 76% as in dependance of the above-mentioned adjustments.Seed losses observed on the magnetic separator were anlargened by some invisible seed damage caused by failure to adjust properly the speed of the cylinder.Seed losses during processing were 20, 4% in mean.

alfalfa; seed; production; losses

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