Motrenko S. Physical-mechanical and biological properties of pelleted sugar beet seed depending on mass of coat.

The dependence of physical-mechanical and biological properties of sugar beet pel-lets on seed size, germination and vigor prior to pelleting as well as on mass of its coat is the subject of this dissertation. Capsulated seed, a new category of coated seed suitable for precision drilling in all sugar beet growing areas of Ukraine was worked out on the basis of carried out experiments. For the first time the optimal mass of coat for pelleting seed of different fractions was established to provide production of pelleted seed having high germination, vigor and uniformity on size. This allows to avoid an extra calibration, reduces time and cost for preparation of pelleted seed. Under field conditions a need for water to germinate such seed reduces more than two times comparing to pelleted seed prepared under existing technologies. It was proven, that both mass of coat and form of pelleted seed have no effect upon evenness of seed distribution by drilling with pneumatic drilling machines. A mass of coat has also no essential influence on sugar beet productivity - root yield, sugar content and sugar yield pro hectare. This allows to reduce a mass of coat from 100-110% to 40-45% of seed mass prior to pelleting without any reducing of productive properties of seed