Experimental research on cracking resistance of Alfalfa seed

The compression properties of three varieties of alfalfa seeds, such as Medicago sativa L. cv. Gannong No.3, Medicago sativa L. Longdong and Medicago sativa L. cv. Golden Empress, are studied by extrusion experiments using SANS universal material testing machine. The results of Longdong alfalfa seed show that the fracture load has relation with shape and size of the alfalfa seeds. For both of ellipsoidal seed and arched seed, the fracture load of single seed is about 19N to 30N. The fracture load increases linearly with the thickness of plump seed with the ratio of thickness to width greater than 0.75. These inclusions for other two varieties are the same with Longdong alfalfa seed. This research could offer a technical basis of designing and developing of the alfalfa seeder and seed harvesting machine.