ABSTRACT

In the study, a novel environmental soybean seed coating agent was made of natural polymer, trace elements, trace fertilizer and biopesticides etc., with the condition of high performance-to-price ratio and environmental friendliness. Effects of this soybean seed coating agent on soybean yield were tested through the laboratory and farm experiments. The tested results showed that the soybean yield using this seed coating agent was increased by 15.46%, and its cost was decreased by 27.8%, compared with the conventional soybean seed coating agent. It’s nontoxic and harmless to human and animals, more friendly to the environment. So it has obvious economic and environmental benefits.

Keywords:

Environmental Friendliness, Soybean Seed Coating Agent, Germination Tendency, Germination Percentage

1. Introduction

Soybean is famous for its abundant plant protein, which is one of the main economic crops in China. In order to ensure soybean could effectively against plant diseases and insect pests violations, in the northeast of China soybean seeds were coated with seed coating agent before it is planted [1] . But at present the mostly used soybean seed coating agent have serious toxicity and pollution to human body and the environment. For example, the Kangzhongcha and G Budweiser soybean coating agent, which is widely used at the Northeast market of China, is seriously toxicity and have pollution. The G Budweiser in the weight of 7 mg can kill people and it have a lasting time for at least 50 years that cannot eliminate pollution in the environment [2] . The traditional toxicity soybean seed coating agent has become one of the major problems of ecological agriculture in China. Therefore, finding out a kind of safe and efficient novel environment-friendly soybean seed coating agent has become the problems that should be solved urgently in the field of agriculture and environmental protection. After many years of research [3] [4] [5] , we finally developed a natural polymer material as the main ingredient, complemented with fertilizer, trace elements and biological pesticide and other additives to make a new efficient environmental friendly soybean seed. Comparing with traditional poisonous soybean seed coating agent, it can reduce the cost by 27.8% and increased the yield of soybean by 15.46%. Meanwhile, it has no toxicity to human and animal, not pollute the environment and can increase grain output; it has significant economic and environmental benefit.

2. Experimental Part

2.1. Main Experimental Instrument and Materials

2.1.1. Main Experimental Instrument

Constant temperature and humidity incubator (WS-O1, Hubei Huangshi Hengfeng Medical Devices Co., Ltd.), high pressure steam sterilizer (YXQ-SG46-48SA Shanghai Boxun Industrial Co. Ltd.), temperature hygrometer (STH950, SUMMIT, USA), constant speed stirrer electronic (GS28B, Shanghai Anting electronic instrument factory), electronic balance (FA2004, Shanghai Yue Feng instrument Co., Ltd.), Petri dishes (d = 90 mm, Shanghai Yuejin Medical Instrument Factory).

2.1.2. Main Experimental Materials

Natural organic polymer materials (PO, homemade), biological antibacterial agent (BT, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, biological pesticide production research center), glacial acetic acid, borax, sodium hydroxide, industrial ethylene glycol, trace elements, Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (they were all analytically pure, Hubei University Chemical Factory), sand, Natural Pigment Violet (Guangdong Shantou Mingde Food Additive Co., Ltd.), soybean seeds (goal nine), Kangzhongcha soybean seed coating agent (Harbin Long Chi Agricultural Chemical Co., Ltd.).

2.2. Experiment Principle and Process

2.2.1. The Design Principle of Seed Coating Agent

We used the non-toxic and harmless natural polymer materials (PO) to human and environment as the main raw ingredient for the soybean seed coating agent to replace the traditional toxic Budweiser grams. One of its characteristics is that it has filming ability, so it can be used as seed coating material. When it is mixed with other pesticides, growth regulators and plant fertilizer, it can be made of seed coating agent. The second characteristics is that it is rich in the element of C and N, which can be used as microbial decomposition of plant growth and nutrient. Meanwhile, PO can change the soil microbial flora, which can promote the growth of micro organisms and inhibit plant pathogenic bacteria [6] .

After all, the design of seed coating agent follows four principles, that is protect environmental, cheap, good quality and high yield. This coating material’s cost is lower than the general market soybean seed coating agent’s raw material costs (about 11 yuan/kg). We designed a number of film, antibacterial, fertilization, plant regulator, warning function and no pollution under the premise of seed coating formulation. The novel environment-friendly seed coating agent and traditional one were conducted experiments of various performance parameters, then we adjusted and optimized the formula on the original experiment, after many repeated adjustment experiments and optimization experiment, we ultimately determine the best seed coating agent, whose cost and environmental friendly properties are superior to other own-made seed coating agents and the traditional seed coating agent.

2.2.2. Preparation of Seed Coating Agent

The natural organic polymer materials (PO), biological antibacterial agent (BT), sodium hydroxide, ethylene glycol, pigment and borax were all respectively made into a certain concentration, then according to a certain proportion and order turn them into a container and mix well, stirring at constant speed electronic stirrer to stir for several minutes, the home-made soybean seed coating agent was finally been made.

2.2.3. Seed Coating agent Laboratory Experimental

Soybean seed coating agent in laboratory experimental refers to using the same soybean to be treated with environment-friendly seed coating agent or the traditional seed coating agent, and then placed the constant temperature and humidity incubator at the same conditions to be cultured, observing in their germination potential and germination rate, and the results were compared and analyzed. The specific process is as follows:

Preparation of seed coating agent: the self-made soybean seed coating agent and traditional soybean seed coating agent were according to a certain proportion respectively mixed with soybean seeds at room temperature, then hanging about 30 min to be coated, dried standby.

Laboratory germination experiments: using sand culture method, according to the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) international rules for seed testing method [7] , each seed coating agent selected 100 seeds. Firstly, dishes and sand used in the experiment were sterilized by high pressure steam sterilizer, then pad in 90 mm diameter circular filter paper culture dish and wet by water, according to the spatial distribution to put into 20 coated soybean seeds in each Petri dish. Every formula set three parallel samples, then covered with moist sand and the petri dish lid, put petri dish into constant temperature and humidity incubator whose temperature in (28 ± 1)˚C, humidity in 85% to culture the seeds. Investigated germination potential and germination rate for every 24 h. According to the provisions of national rules for seed testing, calculate seed germination potential on the 3th day and the final seed germination rate on the 7th day. The formula for calculating the germination potential and germination rate is as follows:

$GE=\frac{Gm}{Gn}\times 100\%$ Formula 2-1

$Gp=\frac{Ga}{Gn}\times 100\%$ Formula 2-2

Through the above two formulas to calculate the soybean seed’s germination potential and germination rate, then comparing with the traditional one and the blank contrast on the two the indicators. If these two indicators are both higher than the traditional agent and reaches the maximum value then it is selected as a good formula in laboratory experiment. On this basis, by adjusting the value of pH, PO molecular weight and concentration to further explore the optimal formula of seed coating agent in the laboratory and then we can carry out the field experiment.

2.2.4. Seed Coating Agent Field Experimental

Using the optimized and adjusted seed coating agent and the traditional seed coating agent to do field experiment in Northeast China, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. The soybean seed coating agent were mixed with the seeds according to a certain proportion, then swing and hanging about 30 min before sowing in the fields. Observed and calculated germination rate and yield of soybean and other information acquisition.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Seed Coating Agent Laboratory Test Results

Seed coating agent in the laboratory test results of the preliminary period is shown in Table 1. 1# - 9# is the homemade soybean seed coating agent, CK is the blank contrast group, traditional seed coating agent is Kangzhongcha soybean seed coating agent, which is currently recognized as the best soybean seed coating agent.

As can be seen from Table 1 that the main economic and technical indexes of the self-made seed coating agent 1#, 2#, 5# and 9# were better than that of traditional seed coating agent and CK, of which 5# had the best effect. Its germination potential and germination rate were better than the traditional seed coating agent, which were respectively increased by 12%, 5%. Comparing with the CK, the germination potential and germination rate were respectively increased by 15% and 7%. While the cost of self-made seed coating agent 5# decreased by 27.8% than traditional seed coating agent. Therefore, 5# was screened out as the best coating coating agent formula on the preliminary laboratory experiment.

3.2. Seed Coating Agent Formula Laboratory Adjusted Results

By changing the influence factors of pH value, PO molecular weight and concentration are based on the 5# formula to find out several seed coating agent whose performance is superior to the traditional seed coating agent.

3.2.1. The Effect of pH Value on the Main Performance Index of Seed Coating Agent

Effect of pH value on the main performance index of seed coating agent are shown in Table 2. As can be seen from Table 2 that seed coating agent’s best performance is at pH = 6. When pH were set from 4 to 6, the seed coating agent’s germination potential and germination rate were gradually increased with the increase of pH value. When pH = 6 the germination potential and germination rate reached the maximum value, then with the increase of pH value, the germination potential and germination rate were declined. Therefore the best pH value of the seed coating agent was 6.

The reason why seed germination potential and germination rate were increased with pH value increased first and then decreased is that:

When the pH value is in low lever, the seed coating agent is acidic slightly stronger, the protective film formed on the surface of seeds was too closely, which influence the seed’s permeability and seed in absorption of dissolved oxygen before germination, thus affecting the seed’s seeding growth. With the increasing of pH value, the membrane binding were more suitable for seed’s health growth. When the pH was at 6, the protective film full played its breathable, waterproof effect, which ensured the seed can absorb oxygen and nutrients and provide favorable conditions for the healthy growth of the seed.

When the pH value is higher than 6, it will affect the homemade coating to film, thus leading to the seed coating agent’s functions of fertilizer, trace elements and antibacterial on seed promotion is blocked, and it is not healthy to the growth of the seed after sowing.

3.2.2. Effect of Concentration on the Molecular Weight of PO to Main Performance Index of Seed Coating Agent

Based on the 5# formula (pH = 6), keeping the other component and content remains unchanged, only change the natural polymer PO’s molecular weight and concentration to research the main performance index of seed coating agent. Comparing the effect of molecular weight of PO in 150 thousand and 200 thousand on seed coating performance, the results are shown in Table 3.

From Table 3 it can be seen that the PO molecular weight in 200 thousand is better than 150 thousand. Therefore, the PO molecular weight in 200 thousand was chosen for the next experiment. In order to change the mass fraction of PO in the formula, to study the effects of different PO concentrations on the main performance index of seed. The result shown in Table 4.

As can be seen from Table 4, the PO concentration had obvious effects on the seed germination potential and germination rate. When the PO concentration were changed from the range 0.1 g/L to 1 g/L, the seed germination potential and germination rate were increased with the concentration increased, when the concentration of PO is 1 g/L, we got the best germination condition. While the PO concentration is higher than 1 g/L, the seed germination potential and germination rate began to decline. Therefore, homemade seed coating agent’s the best PO concentration was 1 g/L. This is because when the PO solution concentration is too high, it will cause a large coating viscosity, thus resulting the film is not uniform. When the PO concentration is too low, it will affect its film forming properties, which leads to membrane pore structure made of loose, and it is not conducive to the healthy growth of the seed.

3.3. Optimization and Comparison Results

Results optimized homemade seed coating agent’s formula 5-F# and blank control (CK) and traditional seed coating agent are shown in Table 5.

As can be seen from Table 5 that germination potential and germination rate were respectively increased by 16% and 8% comparing with the blank contrast group. Increased by 13% and 5% comparing with the traditional seed coating agent, and the cost were decreased by 27.8% comparing with the traditional seed coating agent, which significantly have the price advantage. The seed coating

treatment on soybean seed is shown in Figure 1. Their germination potential is shown in Figure 2.

The seed root length of the best formula is about the same with the original formula, their stability degree is higher than the blank sample. But the best formula’s coated seeds is stronger than the original formula, fibrous root length reached 2 times than the original recipe (Figure 3), while the blank sample of fibrous root is very short. In addition, disease appears in soybean blank samples (Figure 4), this situation has never occurred in the coated samples.

As can be seen from Figure 3 that being coated with seed coating agent, those seeds’ germination potential is obviously superior to the traditional seed coating agent.

3.4. The Field Test Results

The soybean seed were respectively coated with 5-F# seed coating agent and the traditional seed coating agent, and then sowed in three different experimental bases on the northeast of Jilin and Heilongjiang two provinces. We also set a blank contrast group, and all the seed were under the same conditions of planting. The results are shown in Table 6.

As can be seen from Table 6 that seed germination rate of the self-made seed coating agent formula 5-F# was increased by 22% than the blank contrast group. Comparing with the traditional seed coating agent, the seed germination rate of 5-F# was increased by 13%, and the price declined by 20%, so every acres of seed coating agent cost is reduced by 24.2%. Meanwhile the yield of soybean was increased by 15.46% compared with traditional coating agent, and it is safe, non-toxic and no pollution. What’s more, the results of laboratory seed germination potential, germination rate and field experiments were have the same trend. Therefore, the 5-F# formulation of seed coating agent is environmental protection, high quality and high yield and those three characteristics were confirmed in the field experiment, so it has important application value.

3.5. Mechanism Discussion on the Environment Seed Coating Agent

Being treated with seed coating agent, PO can promote the synthesis of m-RNA in seeds, it can greatly enhance the enzyme activity in the seeds’ germination and improve the seed germination rate, seedling growth. Used PO on the concentration of 1% to coated with the soybean seeds can promote the formation of pea

peptide containing phenolic compounds, increase the synthesis rate of phenylalanine. In sixth days after seed germination, the enzyme activity can be increased by 1.2 to 1.7 times than that of the untreated one, which greatly promoted the growth of soybean.

Seed coating agent made by the natural polymer PO had good film forming ability, the protective film for coated seeds can form a layer of dense, thus keeping the seeds of nutrients within the minimum costs. When the coated seeds implanted into the soil, the polymer membrane can swelling the water from soil, which showed it has good permeability, so that the seeds to fully absorb the dissolved oxygen in the soil, and the rapid release of CO₂.

The natural polymer PO can make plants produce systemic antibody, induce the resistance factor, which in return improve the host defense response, increase the disease resistant ability, help the soybean keep effective prevention and treatment of fungal, bacterial and viral invasion, thus resulting in a certain repellent effect of plant diseases and insect pests in the soil. Due to the addition of the repellent BT, so the repellent effect will guarantee the healthy growth of each plant species.

The natural polymer PO could be used as novel inhibitors of plant diseases, it can induced disease resistance of plant, such as the leaf Tofu pudding, soybean root rot disease [8] . What’s more, PO is an elicitor of plant resistance which can also regulate the changes of enzyme activity and disease resistance of plants, and have a direct inhibitory effect on many plant pathogenic fungi. In addition, the film also prevents direct contact with pathogens and host tissues or cells, thereby it will reducing the effective penetration of pathogenic bacteria.

4. Conclusion

Using this natural organic polymer PO as main ingredient, complemented by trace elements and other additives, we prepared a novel environment-friendly soybean seed coating agent. In the process of preparation, keeping the coating pH value adjust to 6, the molecular weight of natural polymer PO in 200 thousand and its concentration is controlled at about 1%, can achieve the best effect of increasing yield. Comparing with the traditional soybean seed coating agent, its seed yield increased by 15.46%; the cost is reduced by 27.8%, and it is safety, non-toxic and pollution-free. It not only has significant economic and environmental benefits to farmers, but also can protect the environment. Therefore, the seed coating agent is a good product benefits to the country, in China’s vast rural areas (especially in the Northeast producing soybean) has important application value.

Cite this paper

Wang, W.J. and Zeng, D.F. (2018) Preparation of a Novel Environmental Soybean Seed Coating Agent. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 7, 133-142. https://doi.org/10.4236/jacen.2018.73012

References