Abstract
A new method of pelleting seeds with pelleter machine is described. The mixtures of pelleting agent are 38% lime, 37-38% talc, 19% bentonite, 1% Yogros, a commercial organic fertilizer, 3% potato starch, 1% avicel, a microcrystalline cellulose with 1-2% seeds by adding water to 22-26% of the mixture in weight. Mixtures are kneaded carefully by adding cupful of water for five minutes to make viscosity ready for pelleting, when seeds are added and kneaded again for half a minute before passing through the pelleter machine. The pelleted seeds are then dried in a ventilating drier for over one hour to reduce the moisture content to less than 5% that is good for storage and transport. Pellets are 3 to 4mm in diameter, 11.1 to 17.6mm in length, 159 to 420mg in weight and the hardness being 4.06 to 5.22kg/cm^2 with smooth surface of excellent texture. Pellets can absorb adequate moisture in one hour on wet filter paper and promote germination of timothy, Italian ryegrass, red clover and white clover seeds and later growth of the four species, e.g. in grass height, root length, number of leaves and tillers. Pelleted seeds of this type are applicable for farm mechanization as their characteristics resemble those of the conventional pelleted fertilizers.
