Abstract:
Seed color sorter machine has the potential to help quarantine purposes by facilitating the
separation of weed seeds from crop seeds. It separates weed seeds from crop seeds based
on color differences with the help of Near Infra-Red cameras. The current study was
conducted to evaluate the separation efficiency of ‘Sinvec’ seed color sorter with the
appropriate speed level. This study was conducted at the National Plant Quarantine
Service, Katunayake, during the period from September to December 2019. Three
random samples of 500 g were taken from onion, radish, coriander, leeks, and carrot
separately. Each sample was mixed with quarantine important weed seed mixture which
was prepared using 5 quarantine weed seed species. 10 seeds from each weed species
were used. Prepared samples were tested under 3-speed levels viz., 55, kg hr-1
, 45 kg hr-1
and 35 kg hr-1
. The manual separation was followed to clarify the obtained results.
Average separation efficiency was calculated using 3 replicates. The time taken for the
machine to finish the sorting process was measured and the weight of rejected crop seeds
of each machine test was also weighed. Data were analysed using the SAS university
edition. Speed 45 kg hr-1
showed better performances compared to the other two speed
levels. Under 45 kg hr-1
speed, the weed seed separation efficiency for coriander was 80-
100%. Separation efficiency for leeks, carrot, onion, and radish was 73-100%, 76-100%,
50-86% and 46.7-90%, respectively. Always, the machine method consumed less time
compared to the manual method. Drawbacks of seed color sorter were found during the
study as it was unable to achieve 100% separation efficiency, Improper data feeding
procedure, Malfunctioning with crop seeds treated with colored fungicides, highly
sensitive to voltage variations, the higher weight of rejection, needs of proper technical
knowledge to operate the machine. These findings will be useful in the future for the
proper functioning of the new Seed Color Sorter in handling large seed lots.
Keywords: Seed colour sorting, Separation efficiency, Weed seeds, Quarantine
