DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, RAJENDRANAGAR

M. Sc.(Ag.) PROGRAMME – COURSE OUTLINE

1. Course No. : SST 507

2. Course Title : Seed Processing and Storage
3. Credit hours : 3 (2+1)
4. Semester/year :
5. Date of commencement :
of instruction
6. Last date of instruction :
7. Course In charge :
8. Academic level of Entry : B. Sc. (Ag.)
9. General Objectives :
To improve the knowledge and skills of M. Sc. (Ag) Seed Tech. students in principles,
operation and maintenance of seed processing equipment, seed drying and storage.

10. Specific objectives :

A) Theory:
By the end of the course the M. Sc. (Ag.) Seed Tech. students will be

I. Able to understand the concepts of Seed processing

II. Able to understand the concepts is operation, adjustments and maintenance of
seed drying equipments.
III. Able to understand the operation, adjustments and maintenance of seed
processing equipment.
IV. Able to understand the construction and maintenance of storage structures for
different types of seed.

B) Practical:
By end of the course, the students will be

I. Able to operate the dryers for seed processing.

II. Able to operate the seed processing equipment.
III. Able to design seed storage structures for different types of seed.
 THEORY

S. Topics/Lesson Time Teaching Teaching Reference

No. (Hours) method aid
1 Seed drying – Advantages, 1 Interactive Chalk 2&3
methods of seed drying, sun lecture Board/
drying, Forced air drying , OHP
Principles of forced air seed
drying, properties of air and
effect on seed drying, Moisture
equilibrium between seed and
air.
2 Forced air drying method, 1 Interactive Chalk 2&3
Heated air drying system, lecture Board/
building requirements, types of OHP
air distribution systems for seed
drying.
3 Selection of crop dryer and 1 Interactive Chalk 2&3
systems of Heated air drying, lecture Board/
Direct fired, Indirect fired, OHP
factor determining the selection
of dryer.
4 Recommended drying 1 Interactive Chalk 2&3
temperature, air flow, seed lecture Board/
depths, procedure for Heated air OHP
drying in bins, Wagon drying,
Bag drying, drying design
considerations, management of
seed drying operations.
5 Seed processing - Introduction 1 Interactive Chalk 1
to Seed Processing an industry, a lecture Board/
service and a science. Services OHP
of seed processor, how seed are
separated. Basic flow pattern in
seed processing.
6 Preparing seed for processing, 1 Interactive Chalk 1
the scalper, the debearder. lecture Board/
OHP
7 The scarifies – Huller, shelling 1 Interactive Chalk 1
Maize. lecture Board/
OHP
8 The air screen cleaner, 2 Interactive Chalk 1
components installation, lecture Board/
separating action, adjustments, OHP
screen selection, Improving the
efficiency of air screen cleaner
9 The length separations, the disc 1 Interactive Chalk 1
separator, operation and lecture Board/
adjustments, the indented OHP
cylinder separator operation and
adjustments.
10 Gravity or weight separations, 2 Interactive Chalk 1
the Sp. Gravity separator, lecture Board/
separating action, preparation of OHP
seed for processing, parts of
machine & adjustments.
11 The stoner - components, 1 Interactive Chalk 1
operation and adjustments, lecture Board/
aspirators and pneumatic OHP
separators, Fractionating
aspirator, scalping aspirator,
pneumatic separator.
12 Surface texture separators - the 1 Interactive Chalk 1
roll mill, adjustments and lecture Board/
cleaning roll mill. OHP
13 Affinity for liquids separations - 1 Interactive Chalk 1
Magnetic Separator, the Buck lecture Board/
Horn machine. OHP
14 Shape or roundness separations - 1 Interactive Chalk 1
the spiral separator, inclined lecture Board/
draper belt separator, horizontal OHP
disc separator, the vibrator
separator.
15 Width & thickness separations, 1 Interactive Chalk 1
The precision grader, Rock-it lecture Board/
corn grader. OHP
16 Colour separations - Electronic 1 Interactive Chalk 1
colour sorters, Electrical lecture Board/
Conductivity Separations, OHP
Electro Static seed separation.
17 Seed treatment Equipment – The 2 Interactive Chalk 1
slurry treater, the panogen lecture Board/
treater, the Mist – o –Matic OHP
treater, Home made drum Mixer,
Grain auger, shovel.
Identifications of treated seeds
18 Efficient seed movement- 3 Interactive Chalk 1
Conveyors and elevators, lecture & Board/
Bucket elevator, Trough belt Tutorial OHP
conveyor, Flat belt conveyor,
Mass flow conveyors and
elevators, air lift elevator.
19 Processing flow sequences for 1 Interactive Chalk 1
complete cleaning of Bajra, lecture Board/
Beans, Bhindi, Cotton, Grass OHP
seed, Ground nut, Jowar etc.
20 Seed Blending – Importance, 2 Interactive Chalk 1
Equipments, Rotary drum lecture & Board/
blenders, conical mixers, Tutorial OHP
vertical spiral conveyor blender,
Computing proportions for
blending different seed lots
21 Planning a new seed processing 1 Interactive Chalk 1
plant, Is a new plant needed, lecture Board/
selecting processing equipment OHP
planning the plant layout
processing cost factors.
Economic feasibility of seed
processing plant.
22 Seed storage – Purpose of seed 2 Interactive Chalk 3
storage, stages, storage on plant, lecture Board/
storage from harvest until OHP
processing, storage in ware
house, factors affecting seed
longevity in storage
23 General principles of seed 1 Interactive Chalk 3
storage factors affecting seed lecture Board/
viability in storage. OHP
24 Constructional features of good 1 Interactive Chalk 3
seed ware house, other measures lecture Board/
for pest and disease control, OHP
Temperature control, insulation,
Refrigeration.
25 Control of seed moisture – 1 Interactive Chalk 3
ventilation, moisture proofing, lecture Board/
Dehumi dification and its impact OHP
on seed quality, RH & EMC of
seed: Thumb rules of seed
storage loss of viability is
impartent Agricultural and
Horticultural crops viability
equations and application of
nomograph.
26 Packaging: Principles, Practices 1 Interactive Chalk 3
and materials, bagging and lecture Board/
labeling. OHP
27 Quality control in storage- 1 Interactive Chalk 3
Germination and vigour tests lecture Board/
measurement and control of OHP
temperature

PRACTICALS
1. Operation of dryers
2. Selection of optimum location of site for seed processing plant
3. Process plant layout and management
4. Study the operation and handling of Mechanical Drying Equipment, effect of drying
temperature on seed germination and storability for oil seeds.
5. Operation of pre cleaning equipment – scalper, debeardar, scarifier etc.
6. Operation and maintenance of air cleaner
7. Study of seed extraction methods.
8. Study of seed blending Machines
9. Study of orthodox, intermediary and recalcitrant seeds.
10. Study and operation of seed treaters such a slurry treater, mist-o-matic treater,
panogen treater.
11. Processing sequence for cereals, pulses, oil seeds and vegetable seed
12. Study of seed storage structures – layout, bag storage structures
13. Packing materials and weighing and packing machines
14-16. Visit to APPSSDC, NSC and other seed firms (Like Pro-Agro, Deccan Seeds etc.)

REFERENCES:
1. Seed Processing by B.R.Gregg, A.G. Law, S.S.Virdi and J.S. Balls, National Seeds
Corporation, US AID and Miss. State University, New Delhi.
2. Post Harvest Technology of Cereals and Pulses by A. Chakraberthy and Dr. D.S.DE,
Oxford & IBH publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
3. Seed Technology by R.L. Agarwal, Oxford & IBH publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New
Delhi.