Abstract:
The aim of research was to
determine the effect of nitrogen (N),
phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers
onthe some physical properties and
mechanical damage to chickpea seeds under
impact. The martial for tests was from a
field experiment with varied levels
fertilization with nitrogen (0 and 50 kg/ha,
N), phosphorus (0 and 100 kg/ha, P2O5) and
potassium (0 and 100 kg/ha, K2O). The
variation of the mechanical damage was
analyzed depending on the mode of varied
fertilization, seed moisture content and
impact energy. It was found that the
chickpea seeds were bigger with NPK
supply. The effects of phosphorus and
potassium fertilizers rates on the mechanical
damage to chickpea seeds was significant at
1% probability level (P<0.01) and increased
its hardness and resilience therefore caused
the better resistance to impact damage.
Potassium fertilization ratehad the most
influence and phosphorus fertilization rate
had the least. The effect of the nitrogen
fertilizer rate was not significant (P>0.05).
Harvesting chickpea seeds at higher
moisture content and lower impact energy
should give lower breakage when NPK is
supplied, as well as when no NPK is
supplied.
