Fluids Handling

Correct Pump Selection Vital For Seed Treatment Applications

Watson Marlow 24/11/2021

338 3 minutes read

Key points

Listen to this article

Seed coating machine manufacturers and users benefit from correct pump choice
Peristaltic pumps have operational advantages over PC and diaphragm pumps for all major application criteria
Seed treatment represents significant global business for WMFTG

Seed treatment is a long-established and proven way for farmers to battle crop diseases and destructive insects, while simultaneously encouraging germination and promoting early season growth. The pumps within seed coating machines have a range of challenges to overcome and demands to meet, so careful assessment at selection stage is vital.

The treatment applied to seeds is typically an antimicrobial or fungicidal chemical coating or dressing. By applying fungicides, for example, it is possible to provide effective protection from many seed and soil-borne plant pathogens, guarding against seed rots and blights that occur during storage or after planting. Similarly, the application of insecticides help to fight pests that strike early in the season when seedlings are most vulnerable.

Further advantages

Beyond the battle against disease and insects, some seed treatment also improves planting characteristics. For instance, the addition of thin, water permeable polymers in the film coating process aids the flow of seed when sowing to improve planting uniformity.

Seed treatment can even improve yield and quality. By way of example, the use of microbial inoculants helps to improve nitrogen fixation in legumes. This process is beneficial as nitrogen is an essential element of life, and nitrogen availability often limits crop yields. In addition, the application of chemical regulators can improve the plant’s ability to tolerate stress-inducing weather conditions in the early stages of growth.

This strategy is environmentally friendly as it eliminates the need to blanket-spray crops in the ground. There is also a cost advantage. Many treated seeds, such as soya bean, are only good for that planting season, so seeds that remain unsown will then require incineration, a process that costs approximately twice that of producing the seed.

Seed treatments may be applied commercially by the seed industry, or in some cases “on farm”. Major seed merchants treat seed in bulk at specially designed plants. Bulk coatings are stored in large tanks and pumped to the coating machine “pots” as they are required.

On farm treatments take place just prior to sowing, typically using portable seed coating machines driven to farms at planting time.

The process

Weighed seed enters a cone whereupon a PLC drives the pump to dispense the right amount of chemical into the coating drum. Seeds receive spray on the way into the drum or within the drum itself. With the right pump it is possible to apply all treatments – including diluting agents, dyes, polymers or other pelleting and coating substances – subsequently and/or at different times and intensities.

Pumps face several challenges in seed treatment applications. Polymer, for instance, is difficult to handle for many pump types, as are pigment-based colours/dyes due to their abrasiveness. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires seeds coated with any form of chemical or biological treatment to use differentiating colours, which helps with identification.

Pump selection

The question arises as to what pump type best fulfils these needs. As part of the evaluation process, seed treatment machine manufacturers must decide what benefits are most desirable, both for themselves and end-users. Typically, selection depends on the ability to deliver production cost savings, high productivity and high seed yield, while minimising downtime and maintenance requirements. Against all of these criteria, a peristaltic pump will easily outperform comparable progressive cavity or diaphragm pumps in terms of both flow precision and reliability.

Benefits of peristaltic

Peristaltic pumps are simple to install and quick to maintain, making them ideal for use in seed coating machinery. Not only can peristaltic pumps run dry, but the fluid only contacts the bore of the hose or tube, making abrasive fluids such as pigments, easy to handle. Furthermore, varying viscosities of the chemical treatments have no effect on flow accuracy, so chemical overshoot is never likely to be a problem.

Importantly, because chemicals are contained within the pumps fluid path, there is no risk to operators when cleaning or maintenance is required.

Seed treatment represents significant global business for Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG). Numerous large seed treatment equipment and chemical companies today invest in the benefits provided by Watson-Marlow’s range of peristaltic pumps and their extensive experience in the industry.

For low-pressure feed pump applications, Watson-Marlow Qdos, as well as its 500 and 600 series tube pumps, prove popular, while for higher flow/viscosity transfer, Bredel hose pumps have become the industry’s first choice.

With so much riding on getting it right, few can ignore the benefits available from investing in peristaltic pump technology for their seed treatment applications.

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Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

01326370370
info@wmftg.co.uk
https://www.wmfts.com/
Bicklandwater Road, Falmouth Business Park, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4RU GB

About us

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) peristaltic tube and hose pumps meet requirements including: value for money; low cost of ownership; reliability and ease of maintenance to the food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, mining and many other industries.

We demonstrate how pumps deliver significant process efficiencies over the lifetime of the equipment. Whether performing flavouring addition in food processing, chemical metering in water treatment or mineral recovery, we have a solution which can cut pump downtime and reduce costs through higher accuracy metering and transfer. WMFTG has dedicated application engineers available to help customers make the right pump and tubing choice from a range providing microlitres per minute to 80 cubic metres per hour flow rates.

The only part of the pump to come into contact with the product is the tube or hose. This means there are no seals or valves that can wear or fail. Replacing the tube or hose can be performed quickly and safely. Peristaltic pump benefits include:

Total fluid containment with no seals No ancillaries Handle viscous and abrasive slurries and sludge Self-priming capability Dry running without damage to the pump In addition to their range of positive displacement pumps, Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group has added PTFE-lined chemical and industrial hoses to their range. Aflex hoses are reinforced to withstand the most severe conditions and use.

Where we supply to

Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America

Industries we supply to

Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater

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