Analysis of the process of alfalfa seed cleaning using seed processing equipment

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the process of cleaning three alfalfa seed lots using seed processing equipment. The effect of the initial quality of alfalfa seed on the losses and gains of processed alfalfa seed was examined. The quality of alfalfa seed during processing was also examined. During alfalfa seed processing, the losses and gains of processed alfalfa seed depend on the initial seed purity and the technology applied. The experiment was carried out at the seed processing centre of the Institute for Forage Crops in Kruševac. A total of three lots of natural alfalfa seed were processed using the fine-cleaning machine Alfa-4 (Damas, Denmark) and the magnetic machine IV (Emcek Gompper, Germany). The following seed processing parameters were observed in the present study: pure seed (%), weed and other seed crops (%), inert matter (%), seed mass (kg), seed loss (%) and processing output (%). On the basis of the results obtained, it is possible to analyse the processing of alfalfa seed and the required equipment adjustments during the process. The equipment adjustments during processing were made depending on the quantity and type of weeds and other substances found in the natural seed.

Keywords

• alfalfa
• seed processing
• seed
• processing output