CHEMICAL-FREE TESTING, DISINFECTION, CLEANING AND ENRICHMENT
MAKING GOOD SEED EVEN BETTER Liesbeth van der Heijden
HIGH-QUALITY SEED PERFORMS EVEN BETTER WITH A LITTLE HELP. THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY, GROWERS TODAY CAN COUNT ON SEED THAT IS INFECTION-FREE, GERMINATES EASILY, AND LEADS TO UNIFORM SPROUTING AND PLANT GROWTH. NON-CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ARE GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY, AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE ON THE WAY.
Quality untreated seed does fine in healthy fields where the soil life is in balance, says Liesbeth van der Heijden, a Senior Researcher in Seed Pathology Research at Bejo. “But the soil isn’t always perfectly in balance. Every grower sometimes encounters setbacks. That’s why it’s better to give the seeds a little help.” Bejo does all its processing at its headquarters in Warmenhuizen, the Netherlands. The seed is sent here directly after being harvested at production sites on several continents. It undergoes a range of tests and treatments in our high-tech facility. We test for germination capacity and fungal, bacterial and viral infections. Where necessary, disinfection and cleaning are carried out.
Physical decontamination For conventional crops, chemical agents can still be used to remove seed-borne pathogens. For organic crops, seeds must be non-chemically treated. Bejo has been working for more than 20 years to optimize nonchemical treatments and is constantly researching new methods. Hot water treatment came first. The combination of water and heat has been further refined with the development of the steam vacuum method. “The challenge is to choose the appropriate action, since every treatment >>
COATING, ENCRUSTING AND PELLETING The seed receives a finishing treatment. Standard coating involves the application of a thin film containing colouring and additives. The seed retains its natural shape. Encrusting fills in irregularities in the seed’s surface so it can more easily pass through a sowing machine. Fennel seed, for instance, is naturally long and furrowed and is treated in this way. Pelleting gives carrot seed additional mass, allowing the fine seeds to be more accurately sown. Pelleting adds a thicker layer of filler to the seed and makes it round. It is particularly used for plants sown in seed trays.
BEJO ORGANIC MAGAZINE
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