Pelletized barley seeds as well as preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of seed treatment, and particularly relates to pelletized barley seeds as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The invention provides a seed coating agent. The seed coating agent is prepared from the following components in percentage by weight: 35 to 40 percent of talcum powder, 28 to 32 percent of bentonite, 8 to 10 percent of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, 15 to 18 percent of light calcium carbonate and 2 to 5 percent of perlite. The talcum powder, the bentonite, the polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, the light calcium carbonate and the perlite are compounded according to a certain proportion, the defect of a single raw material is overcome, the phenomena of falling, crushing, caking and irregularity in the pelletizing process are reduced through synergistic cooperation of bonding, lubricating, reinforcing, filling and adjusting of all the raw materials, and the pelletizing quality is improved. Therefore, the pelleting rate of the seeds is improved, the quality of the pelletized barley seeds is improved, the stress resistance of the barley seeds is enhanced, the miss-seeding and / or re-seeding phenomena of the barley seeds are reduced, the barley yield and quality are improved, and the barley breeding efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of seed treatment technology, specifically relating to a pelleted barley seed, its preparation method, and its application. Background Technology

[0002] Barley, as a major cereal crop, plays a vital role in beer brewing, food processing, feed production, and other industrial sectors due to its short growth period, disease resistance, and strong tolerance to adverse conditions (drought, salinity, and poor soil). Barley seeds are spindle-shaped, typically larger than 2.2 mm in diameter, with a thousand-grain weight exceeding 38 g. While pelleting technology for small seeds is relatively mature, research on the optimal pelleting ratio and suitable raw materials for large seeds like barley (greater than 2.2 mm in diameter) remains largely unexplored. In actual production, barley seeds face numerous challenges: compression and collision during previous harvests often damage the seed embryo; the half-grain rate of some varieties reaches as high as 5%, severely impacting precision sowing by machinery and manual labor; during storage, they are susceptible to insect infestation, leading to embryo damage; and in the early stages of growth, they are threatened by underground pests such as wireworms, resulting in decreased germination rates and poor seedling growth. Chinese patent CN111052911A discloses a seed pelleting technology. However, when applied to barley seeds, it has defects such as low pelleting rate (average only 75%), insufficient pellet strength (compressive strength of a single grain is about 8.8N), and easy damage to seeds during processing. It is difficult to meet the processing requirements of barley seeds, and there is an urgent need to develop a dedicated barley seed pelleting technology. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the problems of low pelleting rate, insufficient strength, and easy damage to seeds in existing barley seed pelleting technology, improve the quality of pelleted barley seeds, enhance the stress resistance of barley seeds, reduce the phenomenon of missed sowing and / or re-sowing of barley seeds, increase barley yield and quality, and improve barley breeding efficiency.

[0004] The present invention provides a seed coating agent comprising 35-40 wt.% talc, 28-32 wt.% bentonite, 8-10 wt.% crospovidone, 15-18 wt.% light calcium carbonate and 2-5 wt.% perlite.

[0005] The present invention also provides a seed pelleting composition comprising individually packaged active ingredients and a coating agent; the active ingredients include fungicides and insecticides;

[0006] The coating agent is the seed coating agent described in the above technical solution.

[0007] Preferably, the fungicide comprises 3 wt.% difenoconazole; the insecticide comprises 5 wt.% phoxim granules.

[0008] Preferably, the mass ratio of the bactericide to the insecticide is 10:1.

[0009] Preferably, the active pharmaceutical ingredient also includes trace elements.

[0010] The present invention also provides the application of the seed coating agent or seed pelleting composition described in the above technical solutions in one or more of the following:

[0011] (1) Improve the pelleting rate of barley seeds;

[0012] (2) Reduce the phenomenon of missed sowing and / or re-sowing of barley seeds;

[0013] (3) Improve the stress resistance of barley seeds;

[0014] (4) Improve the compressive strength of a single barley seed;

[0015] (5) Improve the quality of barley seeds.

[0016] The present invention also provides a pelleted barley seed, comprising barley seeds and a medicinal ingredient and a coating agent sequentially coated on the outer surface of the barley seeds;

[0017] The active ingredient is the active ingredient in the seed pelleting composition described in the above technical solution;

[0018] The coating agent is the seed coating agent described in the above technical solution or the coating agent in the seed pelleting composition described in the above technical solution.

[0019] Preferably, the ratio of the active ingredient to the barley seeds, based on the mass of the fungicide, is 2:100.

[0020] The mass ratio of the coating agent to barley planting material is 1.5–2:100.

[0021] The present invention also provides a method for preparing pelleted barley seeds as described in the above technical solution, comprising the following steps:

[0022] The active ingredient is attached to the surface of moist barley seeds to obtain barley seeds with a protective layer.

[0023] Add water to the barley seeds to form the protective layer, moisten the seed surface, add the coating agent, stir, and after the seed surface dries, repeat the steps of adding water-adding coating agent-stirring 9 to 30 times until all the coating agent is added to obtain pelleted barley seeds.

[0024] The present invention also provides the application of the pelleted barley seeds described in the above technical solutions or the pelleted barley seeds obtained by the preparation method described in the above technical solutions in barley breeding.

[0025] Beneficial effects:

[0026] This invention provides a seed coating agent comprising 35-40 wt.% talc, 28-32 wt.% bentonite, 8-10 wt.% crospovidone, 15-18 wt.% light calcium carbonate, and 2-5 wt.% perlite. This invention overcomes the shortcomings of single-raw material by compounding talc, bentonite, crospovidone, light calcium carbonate, and perlite in a specific ratio. The high binding force of bentonite is balanced by the lubricity of talc, ensuring initial adhesion while preventing clumping. The density of light calcium carbonate complements the structure of crospovidone, resulting in firm pellets without excessive brittleness. The humidity-regulating function of perlite provides environmental protection for the action of bentonite and crospovidone, ensuring stable granulation under different humidity conditions. Through the synergistic combination of "bonding-lubrication-reinforcement-filling-regulation", the phenomena of shedding, breaking, clumping and irregularity in the pelleting process are reduced, thereby improving the pelleting rate of seeds, improving the quality of pelleted barley seeds, enhancing the stress resistance of barley seeds, reducing the phenomenon of missed sowing and / or re-sowing of barley seeds, improving barley yield and quality, and improving barley breeding efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below.

[0028] Figure 1 To test the germination of different barley seeds over three days in Example 4;

[0029] Figure 2 To test the germination of different barley seeds in Example 4 over five days;

[0030] Figure 3 To test the germination of different barley seeds in Example 4 after eight days;

[0031] Figure 4 To test the germination of different barley seeds in Example 4 over nine days. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention provides a seed coating agent comprising 35-40 wt.% talc, 28-32 wt.% bentonite, 8-10 wt.% crospovidone, 15-18 wt.% light calcium carbonate and 2-5 wt.% perlite.

[0033] In one embodiment, the seed coating agent of the present invention comprises 40 wt.% talc powder. In another embodiment, the talc powder of the present invention has a particle size of 500 mesh. The talc powder of the present invention has a layered structure, low surface energy, and lubricity, which can significantly reduce the adhesion between raw materials. Firstly, it can prevent "raw material clumping" caused by excessive adhesion of bentonite. Secondly, through lubricity, it allows subsequently added raw materials (such as light calcium carbonate and perlite) to be "uniformly coated layer by layer," reducing local accumulation or voids and improving the shape regularity of the pellets. The talc powder of the present invention has the effect of reducing adhesion and improving the uniformity of adhesion.

[0034] In one embodiment, the seed coating agent of the present invention comprises 30 wt.% bentonite. In another embodiment, the talc powder of the present invention has a particle size of 10–50 μm; in yet another embodiment, the talc powder has a particle size of 10–30 μm. The bentonite of the present invention has strong water absorption (capable of absorbing several times its own weight in water) and high binding force. During pelleting, it absorbs water and swells, firmly adhering talc powder, light calcium carbonate, cross-linked polyvinyl chloride, and perlite to the seed surface, forming a "base layer" of the pellets. This solves the problem of "raw materials failing to initially adhere," maintains appropriate humidity during pelleting, and ensures that subsequent raw materials can continuously adhere to the base layer, avoiding delamination or detachment due to excessively rapid drying. The bentonite of the present invention provides a basic bonding and water-retaining framework.

[0035] In one embodiment, the seed coating agent of this invention comprises 15 wt.% crospovidone. The crospovidone of this invention is a cross-linked polymer with high swelling capacity (it does not dissolve but swells upon absorbing water) and a three-dimensional network structure. This network structure tightly binds talc and light calcium carbonate with bentonite, compensating for the brittleness of talc and light calcium carbonate, making the pellets less prone to breakage during rolling and drying. The swelling property buffers the volumetric stress caused by humidity changes in the pellets, maintaining structural stability. This enhances the structural strength of the pellets and makes them more resistant to breakage.

[0036] In one embodiment, the seed coating agent of the present invention comprises 15 wt.% light calcium carbonate. In one embodiment, the particle size of the light calcium carbonate of the present invention is 5–20 μm; in another embodiment, the particle size of the light calcium carbonate of the present invention is 5–10 μm. The light calcium carbonate of the present invention exhibits excellent dispersibility, capable of filling the gaps between bentonite and talc particles, reducing the porosity inside the pellets, and making the structure more compact; it can also uniformly cover the seed surface and base layer, avoiding "local protrusions" caused by excessively large raw material particles, and improving the size uniformity of the pellets.

[0037] In one embodiment, the seed coating agent of the present invention comprises 5 wt.% perlite. In one embodiment, the perlite of the present invention has a particle size of 100–300 μm; in another embodiment, the perlite of the present invention has a particle size of 200 μm. The perlite of the present invention has a porous structure, which can absorb excess moisture, preventing the bentonite from becoming too soft and deformed due to excessive water absorption. Simultaneously, it releases moisture to replenish insufficient humidity during drying, maintaining humidity balance during the pelleting process. It also prevents the raw material from "agglomeration failure" caused by oxygen deficiency inside the pellets (especially in multi-layer coating, avoiding adhesion failure caused by internal dampness), indirectly ensuring the stability of layer-by-layer adhesion. The perlite of the present invention has the function of regulating humidity and air permeability, and maintaining stability.

[0038] This invention uses a compound of talc, bentonite, cross-linked polyvinyl chloride, light calcium carbonate, and perlite in a specific ratio to overcome the shortcomings of single raw materials. The high binding force of bentonite is balanced by the lubricity of talc, ensuring initial adhesion while preventing clumping. The density of light calcium carbonate complements the structure of cross-linked polyvinyl chloride, resulting in firm pellets without excessive brittleness. The humidity-regulating function of perlite provides environmental protection for the effects of bentonite and cross-linked polyvinyl chloride, ensuring stable pelleting under varying humidity conditions. Through the synergistic effect of "binding-lubrication-reinforcement-filling-regulation," the invention reduces shedding, breakage, clumping, and irregularities during pelleting, thereby increasing the pelleting rate, improving the quality of pelleted barley seeds, enhancing the stress resistance of barley seeds, reducing missed sowing and / or re-sowing, increasing barley yield and quality, and improving barley breeding efficiency.

[0039] The present invention also provides a seed pelleting composition comprising individually packaged active ingredients and a coating agent; the active ingredients include fungicides and insecticides; the coating agent is the seed coating agent described in the above technical solution.

[0040] In one embodiment, the fungicide of the present invention comprises 3 wt.% difenoconazole. In another embodiment, the insecticide of the present invention comprises 5 wt.% phoxim granules. In another embodiment, the mass ratio of the fungicide to the insecticide of the present invention is 10:1. The present invention limits the ratio of fungicide to insecticide, achieving the effects of fungicide and insect control without affecting seed germination rate and with minimal environmental pollution.

[0041] In one embodiment, the active ingredient of the present invention further includes trace elements. In one embodiment, the trace elements of the present invention include one or more of iron, zinc, and manganese. In one embodiment, the mass ratio of the bactericide to the trace elements of the present invention is 10:0.5.

[0042] The present invention also provides the application of the seed coating agent or seed pelleting composition described in the above technical solution in one or more of the following: (1) improving the pelleting rate of barley seeds; (2) reducing the phenomenon of missed sowing and / or re-sowing of barley seeds; (3) improving the stress resistance of barley seeds; (4) improving the compressive strength of a single barley seed; (5) improving the quality of barley seeds.

[0043] As one implementation method, the present invention improves the stress resistance of barley seeds by increasing the germination rate of barley seeds in saline-alkali soil.

[0044] The present invention also provides a pelleted barley seed, comprising a barley seed and a medicinal component and a coating agent sequentially coated on the outer surface of the barley seed; the medicinal component is the medicinal component in the seed pelleting composition described in the above-mentioned technical solution; the coating agent is the seed coating agent described in the above-mentioned technical solution or the coating agent in the seed pelleting composition described in the above-mentioned technical solution.

[0045] In one embodiment, the active ingredient of this invention, based on the mass of the fungicide, has a mass ratio of 2:100 to the mass of barley seeds. This invention limits the mass ratio of the active ingredient to the barley seeds, which, compared to other ratios, provides fungicide and insect repellent effects without affecting seed germination rate and with minimal environmental pollution.

[0046] In one embodiment, the mass ratio of the coating agent to barley seeds in this invention is 1.5–2:100; in another embodiment, the mass ratio of the coating agent to barley seeds in this invention is 1.8:100. This invention limits the mass ratio of the coating agent to barley seeds, which, compared to other ratios, has the effect of sterilization and insect prevention without affecting seed germination rate and with minimal environmental pollution.

[0047] The present invention also provides a method for preparing pelleted barley seeds as described in the above technical solution, comprising the following steps:

[0048] The active ingredient is attached to the surface of moist barley seeds to obtain barley seeds with a protective layer.

[0049] Add water to the barley seeds to form the protective layer, moisten the seed surface, add the coating agent, stir, and after the seed surface dries, repeat the steps of adding water-adding coating agent-stirring 9 to 30 times until all the coating agent is added to obtain pelleted barley seeds.

[0050] This invention involves attaching the medicinal active ingredient to the surface of moist barley seeds to obtain barley seeds with a protective layer. As one embodiment, this invention attaches the medicinal active ingredient to the surface of moist barley seeds in a single application. This one-time addition of the medicinal active ingredient reduces the need for manual coating before sowing, lowers input costs, and simultaneously prevents pests during seed storage.

[0051] In one embodiment, the water is added at a rate of 20-25 drops / min, atomizing the water droplets into a mist to evenly moisten the surface of the barley seeds. In another embodiment, the mass-to-volume ratio of barley seeds to water is 5000g:2.0mL. In yet another embodiment, the watering time for the barley seeds is 2 minutes. This invention's precise control of water addition prevents clumping and promotes uniform pelleting.

[0052] After obtaining the barley seeds with the protective layer, the present invention adds water to the barley seeds with the protective layer, moistens the seed surface, adds coating agent, stirs, and after the seed surface dries, repeats the steps of adding water-adding coating agent-stirring 9 to 30 times until all the coating agent is added, and obtains pelleted barley seeds.

[0053] In one embodiment, the steps of adding water, adding coating agent, and stirring are repeated 25 to 28 times. In another embodiment, the amount of coating agent added in each adjacent step is the same. This method of adding coating agent in small, multiple batches is economical.

[0054] In one embodiment, the total amount of water added in the steps of adding water, adding coating agent, and stirring is 5.22 mL. In another embodiment, the amount of water added in two consecutive steps is the same. This invention's precise control of the amount of water added prevents clumping and promotes uniform granulation.

[0055] In one embodiment, in the steps of adding water, adding coating agent, and stirring described in this invention, the stirring time for each step is 1 minute. This precise adjustment of the stirring time ensures that the coating agent adheres evenly to the seed surface.

[0056] In one implementation method, after obtaining the pelleted barley seeds, the present invention screens and grades the pelleted barley seeds, separating out those that do not meet the standards and returning them to continue pelleting processing; the qualified pellets proceed to the next process to ensure the consistency of the final product specifications. In one implementation method, the screening and grading of the present invention uses a 2.8–4.0 mm sieve; in another implementation method, the screening and grading of the present invention uses a 2.8–3.2 mm sieve or a 3.5–4.0 mm sieve.

[0057] In one embodiment, the present invention performs a drying treatment on standard-compliant pelleted barley seeds. In one embodiment, the drying temperature is 30°C. In one embodiment, the drying time is 25 minutes. This invention simplifies the storage and transportation of standard-compliant pelleted barley seeds through drying.

[0058] In one embodiment, prior to the drying process, the standard-compliant pelleted barley seeds are polished and colored. In another embodiment, after moistening the standard-compliant pelleted barley seeds, colored dyes are added to form dyes or colored films of different colors on the surface of the qualified pellets. Different colors can serve as warning colors to distinguish different batches or varieties, and the colored film also provides additional protection for the pellets.

[0059] The present invention also provides the application of the pelleted barley seeds described in the above technical solutions or the pelleted barley seeds obtained by the preparation method described in the above technical solutions in barley breeding.

[0060] The pelleted barley seeds provided by this invention enable precise control of sowing quantity, avoiding the use of half-grains, shriveled grains, and insect-damaged grains, thus increasing sowing efficiency by 30%, accuracy by 40%, and reducing seed waste by 25%. When facing threats such as poor soil conditions and pests, the single-grain compressive strength reaches 12.5N, a 42% increase compared to traditional methods; the whole-grain rate increases to 98.7%, while the empty and half-grain rates decrease to 1.3% and 0.5%, respectively. In practical applications, it effectively controls underground pests such as wireworms, increases seed germination rate from the conventional 82% to 91%, promotes robust seedling growth, saves 20%–30% on seed usage, achieves precision sowing, and ultimately increases the average barley yield per acre by 18.6%, creating greater economic benefits for agricultural producers.

[0061] To further illustrate the present invention, the following detailed description, in conjunction with embodiments, provides a pelleted barley seed, its preparation method, and its application, but these descriptions should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0062] Example 1

[0063] 1. Experimental materials, reagents and instruments

[0064] Barley seeds: "Ganpi No. 8" malting barley seeds were selected, with a thousand-grain weight of 42g, a diameter of 2.5-2.8mm, and an initial plumpness of 92% (after pretreatment and screening).

[0065] Seed coating agent: formulated by weight percentage: 40% talc (500 mesh), 30% bentonite (food grade), 10% crospovidone (pharmaceutical grade), 15% light calcium carbonate (analytical grade), 5% perlite (100 mesh);

[0066] Chemical composition: A mixture of fungicide (3 wt.% difenoconazole) and insecticide (5 wt.% phoxim granules) in a mass ratio of 10:1.

[0067] Instruments: LX-500 seed sorting machine (air classifier + 3-layer sieve, apertures 2.2mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm respectively); ZW-80 pelleting machine (including turntable, adjustable speed motor, and precision dripping system); electronic balance (accuracy 0.01g); stereomicroscope (magnification 10×).

[0068] 2. Seed selection: Start the LX-500 screening machine and first remove shriveled seeds (specific gravity <1.1g / cm³) by air separation (wind speed 1.2m / s). 3 The seeds are then screened to remove light impurities. A 2.2mm sieve removes seeds smaller than the standard size, while a 2.5-3.0mm sieve retains plump seeds. The final seed purity is 99.2%, and the plumpness is 98.5% (1000 seeds were randomly sampled, and the number of complete and plump seeds was counted).

[0069] 3. Moistening and disinfection: Place 5000g of selected barley seeds into the pelleting machine, close the lid, and set the turntable speed to 300r / min; turn on the water supply button and adjust the drip rate to 25 drops / min, atomizing the water droplets through the turntable to moisten the seed surface (for 2 minutes, with a total water volume of 2.2mL); add the reagent components from step 1 through the water supply pipe; the amount of fungicide is 2% of the seed weight, and the amount of insecticide is 2‰ of the seed weight. Continue stirring for 3 minutes to ensure that the reagent components are evenly adhered to the seed surface and form a preliminary protective layer.

[0070] 4. Nucleation: Weigh 90g of seed coating agent (5000g × 1.8%) based on 1.8% of the seed weight and set aside. Adjust the rotation speed of the pelleting machine to 500r / min, activate the dual water supply pipes, and set the drip rate of each pipe to 35 drops / min (1.75mL / min for a single pipe, 3.5mL / min for both pipes combined). Open the dual water supply pipes and atomize water for 10 seconds (0.58mL of water added) to moisten the seed surface. Turn off the water supply, add 10g of seed coating agent, and stir for 1 minute until the seed surface is uniformly adsorbed with the material and there is no free powder. Repeat the "add water for 10 seconds - add 10g of seed coating agent - stir for 1 minute" operation for a total of 9 times (total seed coating agent 90g, total cycle 9 times, total water added 5.22mL, total stirring time 9 minutes). After completion, turn off the equipment and remove the seeds. At this time, a uniform and dense initial pellet structure has formed on the seed surface.

[0071] 5. Subsequent processing: Directly proceed to screening and grading: Use a 2.8-3.2mm vibrating screen to separate particles that have not formed complete nuclei (return to re-nucleate).

[0072] Comparative Example 1

[0073] Same as Example 1, except that the seed coating agent does not contain talc and is composed of the following by weight percentage: 40% modified starch, 30% bentonite (food grade), 10% crospovidone (pharmaceutical grade), 15% light calcium carbonate (analytical grade), and 5% perlite (100 mesh).

[0074] Comparative Example 2

[0075] Same as Example 1, except that the seed coating agent does not contain crospovidone and is composed of the following by weight percentage: 40% talc, 30% bentonite (food grade), 10% crospovidone sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CCMC-Na), 15% light calcium carbonate (analytical grade), and 5% perlite (100 mesh).

[0076] Comparative Example 3

[0077] Same as Example 1, except that the seed coating agent does not contain light calcium carbonate and is composed of the following by weight percentage: 40% talc, 30% bentonite (food grade), 10% crospovidone (pharmaceutical grade), 15% dolomite powder (food grade), and 5% perlite (100 mesh).

[0078] Comparative Example 4

[0079] Same as Example 1, except that the seed coating agent does not contain bentonite and is composed of the following by weight percentage: 40% talc, 30% crospovidone (pharmaceutical grade), 10% crospovidone (pharmaceutical grade), 15% attapulgite (pharmaceutical grade), and 5% perlite (100 mesh).

[0080] Comparative Example 5

[0081] Same as Example 1, except that the seed coating agent does not contain perlite and consists of the following components by weight percentage: 40% talc, 30% bentonite (food grade), 10% crospovidone (pharmaceutical grade), 15% light calcium carbonate (analytical grade), and 5% vermiculite (expanded type, particle size 50-100 mesh).

[0082] Test Example 1

[0083] "Qualified nucleating particles" are defined as follows: the surface material is uniformly coated, with no exposed seeds; the shape is regular (similar to barley seeds); there are no empty grains (no hollow inside) or half grains (round shape). Three groups of samples were randomly selected from the pelleted seeds obtained in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-5, with 1000 grains in each group. The number of qualified nucleating particles was counted, and the nucleation rate (the proportion of qualified nucleating particles) was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0084] Table 1. Effects of different seed coating agents on the pelleting and nucleation of barley seeds.

[0085] Seed coating agent Nucleation rate (%) Difference from Example 1 (%) Example 1 92.5 — Comparative Example 1 78.3 -14.2 Comparative Example 2 65.7 -26.8 Comparative Example 3 72.6 -19.9 Comparative Example 4 69.2 -23.3 Comparative Example 5 85.1 -7.4

[0086] Table 1 shows that the absence of different seed coating additives affected the nucleation rate to varying degrees. The absence of crospovidone resulted in the most significant decrease in nucleation rate (26.8%), followed by bentonite (23.3%), light calcium carbonate (19.9%), talc (14.2%), and perlite (7.4%). These results indicate that talc, bentonite, crospovidone, light calcium carbonate, and perlite play a synergistic and crucial role in the nucleation process, maintaining a high nucleation rate in pelleted barley seeds.

[0087] Example 2

[0088] The barley seeds were pelleted according to the method in Example 1. The only difference was that in the nucleation process in step 4, the seed coating agent was calculated as 1.8% of the seed weight, and the "add water-add seed coating agent-stir" operation was repeated 28 times, that is, the total seed coating agent was 90g, the total cycle was 28 times, and the total water added was 5.22mL.

[0089] The seed pelleting effect of this embodiment was evaluated according to the method of Test Example 1. The results showed that the nucleation rate reached 96.3%, and the qualified pellet rate was 97.1% when screened and graded using a 3.5-4.2 mm sieve.

[0090] Test Example 2

[0091] Verification of the improvement effect on missed and replay phenomena

[0092] 1. Experimental materials:

[0093] Control group: The same variety as in Example 2, without disinfection and pelleting, was subjected to the same selection process, with a purity of 99.2%, a plumpness of 98.5%, a natural half-grain rate of 5.1%, and a diameter of 2.3-2.6 mm.

[0094] Experimental group: Pelleted seeds (Example 2)

[0095] 2. Sowing equipment: 2BJD-12 precision seeder (12 rows, row spacing 15cm, plant spacing set at 10cm, seed metering device type is eye wheel type, orifice diameter 4.2mm), equipped with a sowing monitoring system (can record missed sowing and re-sowing locations).

[0096] 3. Experimental fields: Select flat plots, each with an area of ​​1 mu, with medium loam soil, no barley planted in the previous crop, and no crop residues or large debris in the field to ensure consistent sowing conditions.

[0097] 4. Sowing parameter settings: Both groups use the same seeder, adjust the seed metering speed to 80r / min, sowing depth to 4cm, travel speed to 4km / h, and theoretical plant spacing to 10cm (i.e., 10 seeds should be sown per meter of row length).

[0098] 5. Sowing operation: The experimental group and the control group were sown in two experimental fields respectively. Before sowing, the seeder was calibrated by running it idle for 3 minutes to ensure that the seed metering device was not blocked and that the monitoring system was recording normally. Each field was sown in a "reciprocating" manner, with a total of 100 rows sown, each row being 50m long, for a total sowing row length of 5000m.

[0099] 6. Methods for Statistical Analysis of Missed Plays and Replays

[0100] Missed sowing: No seeds fell at the theoretical sowing location (one point every 10cm);

[0101] Reseeding: defined as "two or more seeds falling at the same theoretical sowing location".

[0102] 7. Within 24 hours after sowing (before germination), 30 monitoring sections (each section is 10m long, for a total of 300m) were randomly selected. The number of missed sowings and the number of re-sowings in each monitoring section were manually counted. The "missed sowing rate" and "re-sowing rate" were calculated according to the following formulas. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0103] Missed sowing rate = (Number of missed sowings ÷ Theoretical number of sowings) × 100%;

[0104] Reseeding rate = (Number of reseedings ÷ Theoretical number of sowings) × 100%;

[0105] Total anomaly rate (missed broadcast + rebroadcast) = Missed broadcast rate + Rebroadcast rate.

[0106] Table 2. Verification results of the improvement effect on missed and replay phenomena.

[0107] Group experimental group control group Comparison results Total monitored length (m) 300 300 - Theoretical number of seeds (1 seed per 10cm) 3000 3000 - Number of missed broadcasts 86 325 - Missed broadcast rate (%) 2.87 10.83 - Number of replays 72 298 - Replay rate (%) 2.4 9.93 - Overall anomaly rate (missed plays + replays) (%) 5.27 20.76 - abnormality rate reduction ratio - - 74.6

[0108] As shown in Table 2, the control group's naked seeds, due to their irregular shape (some half-grains and shriveled grains) and differences in abdominal diameter, were prone to leaking out or getting stuck in the gaps of the seed metering device's eye ring, resulting in a missed sowing rate of 10.83%. In contrast, the experimental group's pelleted seeds were uniform in size (3.8–4.0 mm in diameter) and regular in shape (fusiform), with good compatibility with the seed metering device's aperture (4.2 mm), reducing the missed sowing rate to 2.87% and the number of missed sowings to 73.5%. Using the pelleting method of this invention significantly improved the missed sowing phenomenon. The control group's naked seeds, due to inconsistent surface smoothness and poor flowability, were prone to "sticking" or "bouncing" during sowing, causing multiple seeds to fall from the same position, resulting in a re-sowing rate of 9.93%. The experimental group's pelleted seeds, after surface polishing, exhibited excellent flowability and high pellet strength (12.5 N), making them less prone to breakage, reducing the re-sowing rate to 2.40% and the number of re-sowings to 76.9%. Using the pelleting method of this invention significantly improved the re-sowing phenomenon. The total abnormality rate of missed sowing and reseeding in the control group was 20.76%, while that in the experimental group it dropped to 5.27%, a reduction of 74.6%, far exceeding the expected effect of "more than 60%". The pelleting technology of this invention significantly improves the stability of mechanical sowing and reduces the total abnormality rate through the characteristics of "uniform size and regular shape".

[0109] Example 3

[0110] 1. Experimental materials, reagents and instruments

[0111] Barley seeds: "Ganpi No. 8" malting barley seeds were selected, with a thousand-grain weight of 42g, a diameter of 2.3-2.8mm, and an initial plumpness of 92% (after pretreatment and screening).

[0112] Seed coating agent: formulated by weight percentage: 40% talc (500 mesh), 30% bentonite (food grade), 10% crospovidone (pharmaceutical grade), 15% light calcium carbonate (analytical grade), 5% perlite (100 mesh);

[0113] Chemical composition: A mixture of fungicide (3 wt.% difenoconazole) and insecticide (5 wt.% phoxim granules) in a mass ratio of 10:1.

[0114] Instruments: LX-500 seed sorting machine (air classifier + 3-layer sieve, apertures 2.2mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm respectively); ZW-80 pelleting machine (including turntable, adjustable speed motor, and precision dripping system); electronic balance (accuracy 0.01g); stereomicroscope (magnification 10×).

[0115] 2. Seed selection: Start the LX-500 screening machine and first remove shriveled seeds (specific gravity <1.1g / cm³) by air separation (wind speed 1.2m / s). 3The seeds are then screened to remove light impurities. A 2.2mm sieve removes seeds smaller than the standard size, while a 2.5-3.0mm sieve retains plump seeds. The final seed purity is 99.3%, and the plumpness is 98.2% (1000 seeds are randomly sampled, and the number of complete and plump seeds is counted).

[0116] 3. Moist disinfection: Same as step 3 in Example 1, except that the drip rate is adjusted to 22 drops / min.

[0117] 4. Nucleation: Same as step 3 in Example 1, except that the seed coating agent is calculated as 1.8% of the seed weight, and the "add water-add seed coating agent-stir" operation is repeated 28 times, that is, the total seed coating agent is 90g, the total cycle is 28 times, and the total water added is 5.22mL.

[0118] 5. Subsequent processing: Directly proceed to screening and grading: Use a 3.5-4.0mm vibrating screen to separate particles that have not formed a complete nucleus (return to re-nucleate), with a qualified pellet rate of 96.5%.

[0119] 6. Polishing and Coloring: Inside the pelleting machine, turn on the turntable and water supply switch, controlling the water flow to 15-20 drops / min. After the surface of the pellets is moistened, sprinkle in small amounts of colored dye multiple times, so that different colored dyes or colored films form on the surface of qualified pellets. Different colors can be used as warning colors to distinguish different batches or varieties, and the colored film can also provide additional protection for the pellets.

[0120] 7. Heating, Drying, and Metering Packaging: The colored barley pellets are fed into a temperature-controlled dryer and dried at 30℃ for 25 minutes, achieving a final moisture content of 12.5%. During the drying process, the pellets are continuously turned to ensure even moisture loss and to meet the specified moisture content standard. Subsequently, automated metering and packaging equipment is used to accurately measure and seal the dried barley pellets for storage and transportation.

[0121] Test Example 3

[0122] 1. Experimental materials:

[0123] Control group: The same variety of naked seedlings as in Example 3, without disinfection or pelleting treatment, were subjected to the same selection process, with a purity of 99.3% and a plumpness of 98.2%.

[0124] Experimental group: Pelleted seeds (Example 3).

[0125] 2. Performance Testing

[0126] (1) Determination of single-particle compressive strength

[0127] The TA.XT Plus texture analyzer (Stable Micro Systems, UK), probe model P / 2N, was used. The testing speed was 1 mm / s, and the maximum pressure value was recorded when the pellets were compressed to the point of rupture. Fifty pellets were randomly selected from each group, and the average value was taken. The results are shown in Table 3.

[0128] (2) Statistics on whole seed rate, empty seed rate and half seed rate

[0129] 1000 seeds were randomly selected from each group, and the number and proportion of intact wrapped seeds (whole seeds), hollow seeds (empty seeds), and partially exposed seeds (half seeds) were counted through actual squeezing and observation. The results are shown in Table 3.

[0130] 3. Germination rate test

[0131] Fifty seeds were taken from each group and placed in a petri dish lined with filter paper. The temperature was kept constant at 25℃, the humidity was 70%, and the light intensity was 12h / day. Germination potential was recorded on the 3rd day, and germination rate was recorded on the 5th day. The results are shown in Table 3.

[0132] 4. Wireworm resistance test

[0133] Simulating a field soil environment (sandy loam, 20% humidity), 50 seeds per group were co-cultured with 10 wireworms (3rd instar larvae) for 7 days. The seed embryo damage rate (number of damaged seeds / total number of seeds × 100%) was calculated, and the results are shown in Table 3.

[0134] 5. Field sowing and yield experiment

[0135] Experimental field overview: The experimental field was selected from the wheat crop experimental base in Huangyang Town, Wuwei City, Gansu Province. The soil fertility was uniform (organic matter content 1.8%, pH 6.8), and each plot was set up with a depth of 20m. 2 The previous crop was barley.

[0136] Sowing method:

[0137] (1) Both the experimental group and the control group used a 2BJM-6 precision seeder (row spacing 20cm, plant spacing 10cm) and a seeding rate of 20kg / mu.

[0138] (2) On the 7th day after sowing, three 1m seeds were randomly selected. 2 For quadrats, count the actual number of seedlings (calculate sowing accuracy: actual number of plants / theoretical number of plants × 100%);

[0139] (3) Calculate the amount of seeds lost due to mechanical damage during the sowing process (calculate the seed waste rate: loss amount / total sowing amount × 100%).

[0140] Field management: Fertilization, watering and weeding measures are the same for all groups (base fertilizer: compound fertilizer 25kg / mu).

[0141] Yield statistics: All plants in the experimental area were harvested at maturity, threshed, and weighed to calculate the yield per mu (based on a moisture content of 13%). The results are shown in Table 3.

[0142] Table 3. Results of related tests on pelleted seeds and naked seeds.

[0143]

[0144] As shown in Table 3, the single-seed compressive strength of the pelleted seeds in the experimental group reached 12.5 N, a 42% increase compared to the naked seeds in the control group (8.8 N). The intact seed rate was as high as 98.7%, while the empty and half-seed rates were significantly reduced. This demonstrates that the pelleted structure effectively protects the seeds, reducing damage during processing and transportation, and meeting the requirements for seed morphological uniformity in mechanical sowing. The germination rate of the experimental group (91%) was 11% higher than that of the control group (82%), and the wireworm infestation rate decreased from 28.5% to 3.2%. This indicates that the "moistening disinfection" step (fungicide + insecticide) of this invention works synergistically with the pelleted material, protecting seed viability and enhancing insect resistance. Due to their regular shape, the pelleted seeds in the experimental group had better flowability during mechanical sowing, increasing sowing efficiency by 30%, accuracy by 40%, and reducing seed waste by 25%. The final yield per acre reached 486.2 kg, an 18.6% increase compared to the control group (410.0 kg).

[0145] Example 4

[0146] Barley seeds were pelleted according to the method in Example 2, the only difference being that the seed coating agent was calculated at 1.5% of the seed weight, and polishing and coloring were not performed.

[0147] Example 5

[0148] Barley seeds were pelleted according to the method of Example 2, the only difference being that the seed coating agent was calculated at 2.0% of the seed weight, and polishing and coloring were not performed.

[0149] Example 6

[0150] Barley seeds were pelleted in accordance with the method of Example 2, the only difference being that the seed coating agent was calculated at 4.0% of the seed weight.

[0151] Test Example 4

[0152] Germination experiments were conducted on the pelleted seeds obtained in Examples 4-6 according to the method described in Test Example 3. The results are as follows: Figures 1-4 As shown.

[0153] according to Figures 1-4It can be seen that the control group (CK) germinated faster than the pelleted group on the third day. On the fifth day of germination, the 2.0X (Example 5) pelleted seeds began to show advantages. On the eighth day of germination, the 2.0X (Example 5) pelleted seedlings were significantly better than other groups. On the ninth day of germination, the seedlings of the pelleted seeds of Examples 4-6 were significantly stronger than the control group (CK). At the same time, comparing seeds with different pelleting ratios, the 2.0X (Example 5) pelleted seeds were taller than the 1.5X (Example 4) and 4.0X (Example 6) pelleted seedlings.

[0154] Test Example 5

[0155] Stress resistance verification

[0156] 1. Experimental Materials

[0157] Control group: The same variety of naked seeds as in Example 2, without pelleting, were selected using the same methods, with a purity of 99.2%, a plumpness of 98.5%, a natural half-grain rate of 5.1%, and a diameter of 2.3–2.6 mm.

[0158] Experimental group: Pelleted seeds (Example 2)

[0159] 2. Cultivation substrate

[0160] (1) Coastal saline-alkali land: The main salt is sodium chloride, and the soil salt content is about 0.3% to 0.5%;

[0161] (2) Inland saline-alkali land, the soil pH is about 8.5 to 9.5, and contains a high concentration of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate (carbonate ion concentration is 0.4%).

[0162] 3. Experimental Design

[0163] A germination experiment simulating a saline-alkali environment was set up in the laboratory. Multiple petri dishes were prepared, each with two layers of filter paper at the bottom. Prepared simulated saline-alkali solutions were added to the dishes. The solution simulating coastal saline-alkali land consisted mainly of sodium chloride with a salt content of 0.4%; the solution simulating inland saline-alkali land consisted mainly of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, with the pH adjusted to 9.0. Seeds from the control and experimental groups were evenly placed on the filter paper in different petri dishes, with three replicates per treatment and 50 seeds per replicate. The petri dishes were then placed in a constant temperature incubator, maintaining a temperature of 25℃, humidity of 70%, and a light intensity of 12 h / d.

[0164] 4. Experimental Results Recording: From the date the seeds were placed in the petri dish, the germination status of the seeds was observed and recorded at regular intervals every day; the germination standard was that the radicle broke through the seed coat and the length reached 1 / 2 of the seed length. Each treatment was repeated 3 times, and the average value of the results was taken. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0165] Table 4 Seed germination in different saline-alkali environments

[0166]

[0167] As shown in Table 4, under simulated coastal and inland saline-alkali land conditions, the germination rate of the pelleted barley seeds produced by this invention can be maintained at over 85%, which is much higher than that of the conventional seeds in the control group. This effectively enhances the germination ability of barley seeds in saline-alkali land environment and strongly verifies the significant effect of this invention in improving seed stress resistance.

[0168] Comparative Example 6

[0169] Same as Example 1, except that the seed coating agent is different. The seed coating agent used in this comparative example consists of 2 wt.% composite modified starch (binder), 15-25 wt.% vermiculite powder and 0.5-10 wt.% chitosan (protective film).

[0170] Comparative Example 7

[0171] Same as Example 1, except that the seed coating agent is different. The seed coating agent used in this comparative example consists of 4 wt.% composite modified starch (binder), 15-25 wt.% vermiculite powder and 0.5-10 wt.% chitosan (protective film).

[0172] Test Example 6

[0173] Following the procedures in Test Examples 1 and 3, the grain formation rate, single-seed compressive strength, and pellet shedding rate of the pelleted seeds in Comparative Examples 6 and 7 were tested. The results showed that the grain formation rate, single-seed compressive strength, and pellet shedding rate of the pelleted seeds in Comparative Example 6 were 70–80%, 8.0–9.0 N, and 15–20%, respectively; while those of the pelleted seeds in Comparative Example 7 were 60–65%, 6.0–7.0 N, and 20–25%, respectively.

[0174] As can be seen from the above, this invention can improve the quality of pelleted barley seeds, enhance the stress resistance of barley seeds, reduce the phenomenon of missed sowing and / or re-sowing of barley seeds, increase barley yield and quality, and improve barley breeding efficiency.

[0175] Although the above embodiments have provided a detailed description of the present invention, they are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. People can obtain other embodiments based on these embodiments without creative effort, and these embodiments all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A seed coating agent, characterized in that, It includes 35–40 wt.% talc, 28–32 wt.% bentonite, 8–10 wt.% crospovidone, 15–18 wt.% light calcium carbonate and 2–5 wt.% perlite.

2. A seed pelleting composition, characterized in that, It includes individually packaged active ingredients and coating agents; the active ingredients include fungicides and insecticides; The coating agent is the seed coating agent according to claim 1.

3. The seed pelleting composition according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fungicide includes 3 wt.% difenoconazole; the insecticide includes 5 wt.% phoxim granules.

4. The seed pelleting composition according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mass ratio of the bactericide to the insecticide is 10:

1.

5. The seed pelleting composition according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The active ingredients also include trace elements.

6. The use of the seed coating agent according to claim 1 or the seed pelleting composition according to any one of claims 2 to 4 in one or more of the following: (1) Improve the pelleting rate of barley seeds; (2) Reduce the phenomenon of missed sowing and / or re-sowing of barley seeds; (3) Improve the stress resistance of barley seeds; (4) Improve the compressive strength of a single barley seed; (5) Improve the quality of barley seeds.

7. A pelleted barley seed, characterized in that, Includes barley seeds and a medicinal ingredient and a coating agent sequentially coated on the outer surface of the barley seeds; The active ingredient is the active ingredient in the seed pelleting composition according to any one of claims 2 to 4; The coating agent is the seed coating agent according to claim 1 or the coating agent in the seed pelleting composition according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

8. The pelleted barley seeds according to claim 7, characterized in that, The active ingredient, calculated by mass of the fungicide, is in a mass ratio of 2:100 to the mass of the barley seeds. The mass ratio of the coating agent to barley planting material is 1.5–2:

100.

9. The method for preparing pelleted barley seeds according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The active ingredient is attached to the surface of moist barley seeds to obtain barley seeds with a protective layer. Add water to the barley seeds to form the protective layer, moisten the seed surface, add the coating agent, stir, and after the seed surface dries, repeat the steps of adding water-adding coating agent-stirring 9 to 30 times until all the coating agent is added to obtain pelleted barley seeds.

10. The use of the pelleted barley seeds according to claim 7 or 8 or the pelleted barley seeds obtained by the preparation method according to claim 9 in barley breeding.

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