METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPLANTING TREATMENT OF SEED POTATO TUBERS Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: agriculture. SUBSTANCE: method involves exposing potato tubers to optical radiation flux at four successive stages, with each stage lasting for 60-120 s, radiation intensity at the first stage being within the range of 950-1100 Wt/sq m and at subsequent stages within the range of 650-750 W/sq m. Density of radiation flux energy within the ranges of 360-380 nm, 380-500 nm, 500-600 nm and 600-700 nm, respectively: at first stage is equal for all ranges; at second stage: 0.45-0.55%, 13.0-16.0%, 19.0-22.0%, 62.0-66.0%; at third stage: 0.9-1.1%, 29.0-31.0%, 19.0-21.0%, 46.0-54.0%; at fourth stage: 1.9-2.1%, 58.0-62.0%, 9.5-10.5% and 25.0-31.0%. Apparatus has immovable trough 3 mounted on supports and rotating annular tray with carrier rolls 6. Radiation sources 13,14,19,16 are united to form four sections. EFFECT: increased efficiency by rational arrangement of optical radiation sources and, consequently, optimum distribution of energy density at all spectral ranges. 3 cl, 3 dwg, 1 tbl