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Seed encrusting and pelleting
 Large scale planting systems are
increasingly being used to boost
production. These mechanical devices
work better when the shape of the seed
is more uniform: the seeds "flow better"
in a mechanical sense. Pelleting caters
to this type of requirement, by creating
round pellets of a standardized size.
These pellets (round spheres) and
encrustings (lesser degree of build-up)
have additional advantages:
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Better plantability (as described
above)
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Use of phytotoxic products
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Higher percentage of marketable
fraction
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Weight and volume increase
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Uniform distribution and high
recovery of the applied pesticides
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Addition of biological control
agents (bacteria)
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Addition of growth promoting agents
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Addition of identification systems
(from color codes to micro taggants)
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There is a wide variation in pellet
types: |
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MELTING PELLETS
The pellet stays around the seed,
but dissolves evenly away.
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SPLIT PELLETS
The pellet splits open upon water
contact and gives a free way to the
germ.
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PROTECTOR PELLETS
Provides additional brrier between
coating and seed, without inhibition
of water or oxygen exchange.
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IDEAL CONDITIONS
Professional pellets or greenhouse
pellets.
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FIELD CONDITIONS
For a wide range of climatic
conditions and soil types;
pellets for field
conditions.
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