FACTORS AFFECTING THE GERMINATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MONOGERM SUGAR BEET
2.2.7 Pelleting
Nearly all the seed sown in the U.K. is pelleted as there are several advantages over raw-rubbed seed. The major advantage is more accurate drilling and others are safe dressing with fungicides, protection from mechanical damage and sowing depths and spacings are easily checked (Charlesworth 1978).
There are many materials and methods which can be used for Clays such as Cellite, Montmorillonite, Vermiculite or Bentonite, or other materials such as cork, peat, chalk, sand or even beet cortex can be used. Non-clay materials may need a sticker such as ethyl cellulose to hold the pellet together. Clay structures generally adhere with water only, but they need sufficient physical strength to resist damage in the drill but breakdown easily on contact with soil water.
The three main methods of pelleting are stamping, coating or rolling. Stamping is a dry process and is therefore rapid but any additive must be evenly distributed throughout the pelleting material, while coating and rolling permit layering of additives anywhere within the pellet.
Drying after pelleting is necessary and slows the procedure down (Longden 1975).
The most popular process in the U.K. is the Germain's "Filcoat". About 1600 tonnes of seed are pelleted annually with a secret clay-based medium (Charlesworth 1978), plus methiocarb insecticide @ 4 Kg/1000 Kg seed (Johnson 1980, personal communication). Manganese Oxide can also be incorporated for use in deficient soils (Farley & Draycott 1978).
FACTORS AFFECTING THE GERMINATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MONOGERM SUGAR BEET
[Introduction & Contents] [Chapter One] [Chapter Two] [Chapter Three] [Chapter Four] [Chapter Five] [Chapter Six] [Chapter Seven]
[2.1] [2.2.1] [2.2.2] [2.2.3] [2.2.4] [2.2.5] [2.2.6] [2.2.7] [2.2.8]
