SNAP BEAN SEED INJURY BY SEED METERING DEVICES ON PLANTERS

Snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds, ungraded for size, of four varieties were metered through 5 different planter seed plates in three planter assemblies at 5 speeds of rotation to determine effects of type of plate and speed of rotation on the number of seeds metered per seed plate cell and on injury to the seeds and seedlings.
The speed of rotation of each seed plate was adjusted to meter 15 seeds per second.
Then the speed of rotation of each plate was increased 2, 3, 4 and 5 times the speed needed to meter 15 seeds per second.
Standard laboratory germination tests and field plantings were made on the seeds to determine germination, emergence, vigour and injury to the seedlings.

The number of seeds metered per seed plate cell decreased as the speed of rotation of the plates increased, especially at the highest speeds of rotation.
A horizontal plate holding about 2 seeds per cell caused broken seeds and decreased the percentage of seedlings with two complete cotyledons.
The seed injury caused by the plate increased with increasing speed of rotation.
A horizontal plate holding 4 seeds per cell caused moderate injury to the seeds, especially at the highest speeds.
There was only slight evidence of injury to the seeds caused by 1) a horizontal plate holding 6 seeds per cell, 2) by holding the plates at 45° angle, and 3) by the vertical plates holding one seed per cell regardless of speed of rotation of the plates.

Symposium on the Timing of Field vegetable Production

N.H. Peck, B.E. Clark

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1978.72.14