TECHNICAL NOTE - A ROTARY SEED PROCESSOR FOR REMOVING PUBESCENCE FROMSEED OF PRAIRIE GRASSES

Many of the perennial prairie grasses that are used in restoration pla ntings in the central Great Plains have seed appendages such as awns a nd pubescence that make seed flow through planters difficult. We have developed a rotary seed processor that efficiently processes small bre eder or experimental lots of seed that can then be easily planted with small plot cone planters or conventional planters. The processor cons ists of a metal cylinder that is lined with corrugated rubber and a ro tating center shaft with rubber paddles. Processing can be controlled by varying shaft rotation speed and processing time. A top-opening, fu ll length trap door allows for easy loading and the cylinder can be in verted to dump out processed seed. The processor has been used success fully for several gears on big bluestem [Andropogon gerardii Vitman], indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], little bluestem [Schizachy rium scoparium (Michaux) Nash], prairie sandreed [Calamovilfa longifol ia (Hook.) Scribner], and blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis; (Willd. ex K unth) Lagascaex Griffiths] seed By removing seed appendages and pubesc ence seed bulk is reduced and seed density and flow ability are improv ed. The processing operation is relatively gentle and seed germination per unit weight of seed is improved.