Research of Impact by Mechanical Device on Winter Wheat Seeds

Abstract

Problems of seed damage have become important in connection with the use of machines at all stages of harvesting and processing of crops. The high percentage of damaged seeds in machining significantly reduces the quantity and quality of the crop harvest. (Purpose of the study) The impact of the mechanical device on the samples of winter wheat grains and its impact on the biological potential of seeds were studied in solving the problem of preserving the integrity of the grain material. (Materials and methods) The degree of crushing and micro-damage of grains under mechanical impact on the steel plate of the model plant without and with a polymer coating was revealed. The experiment was carried out with the help of simulation system, which allows to create conditions of impact on the studied sample of wheat grains, close to the real one, to obtain objective and scientifically based data. The influence of mechanical impact typical for sowing and harvesting operations on grain was determined. A way to reduce losses of grain material and improve the quality of its processing was theoretically proved. (Results and discussion) It was found that when hitting the steel surface with a polymer coating, the percentage of grain crushing is reduced by more than 7-10 times, the micro – damage of the wheat germ is reduced 4-5 times. We summed up the theoretical basis for substantiation of the obtained experimental results. The influence of the trajectory of the grain on its integrity was determined. It was shown that the decrease in the frequency of crushing of the grain shell and micro-injuries of the seed embryo when hitting the steel plate with a polymer coating is due to a decrease in the potential energy of deformation of the seed. (Conclusions) It was found that almost all the potential energy accumulates in the steel surface of the particle, as the modulus of elasticity of the surface is tens of thousands of times greater than the modulus of elasticity of the particle (grain, seed). Upon impact on the steel surface with a polymer coating, the proportion of accumulated particle potential energy is reduced by almost a thousand times. Thus, the use of a polymer coating will reduce the loss of grain during its machining, which in general should improve the quality of the crop