QUALITY OF BEAN SEEDS HARVESTED BY A COMBINE IN SEMI-MECHANIZED SYSTEM

The objective of this work was to analyze the physic and physiologic quality of bean seeds. The bean seeds variety was the Iapar 81. The system of harvesting used was the semi-mechanized. The seeds were harvested by a combine, model Axial Flow 2388. The quality analysis that considered the influence of four operation speeds (6.5; 8.8; 10.2 and 10.8 km h(-1)), two threshing cylinder velocity ( 430 and 480 rpm) and latent effect of mechanical damages during seeds storage ( 0; 60; 120 and 180 days) was studied. The impurity content, the mechanical damage, the electrical conductivity, the vigor and the seed germination were determined. The smallest values of impurity content were obtained in the displacement speeds of 10.2 and 10.8 km h(-1), on the threshing cylinder velocity of 430 rpm, while there was not any effect of the speed when 480 rpm was used. The largest values of mechanical damage, vigor and germination were obtained in the displacement speeds of 8.8; 9.9 and 9.2 km h(-1), respectively. The smallest value of electric conductivity was obtained in the speed of 7.7 km h(-1), regardless of the threshing cylinder velocity. By working with 480 rpm on the threshing cylinder velocity it was obtained the smallest values impurities content, vigor and germination, and larger values of mechanical damage and electric conductivity. The seed vigor and germination did not decrease with the storage time of 180 days.