An Innovative Technique of Counting 1000 Grains Number

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 Abstract

Crop research utilizes various traits to evaluate its genotypes. The most important characteristics are days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, grain yield per plot, biological yield per plot, and 1000-grain weight. For taking 1000 grain weight, first 1000 seeds of a crop are counted and their weight is measured (in grams). Usually, it is a tedious and time-consuming job to count 1000 grains because students and researchers often make mistakes while counting. Generally, researchers count 100 grains of a crop and take its weight, multiply this by 10 to get the 1000-grain weight. This method of taking 1000 grain weight by counting and weighing only 100 grains is itself not error-free. Thus researcher might choose the wrong genotype instead of the promising genotypes. Thus, an innovative technique of counting 1000 grains of a crop has been developed that counts the grains in an easy way. This new method is efficient and counts 1000 grains very fast without error. This method can be widely used to count the 1000-grain number of different crops. This method saves >75% time than the hand counting method and is 100 % accurate. Round-seeded grains such as garden pea, soyabean, gram, and pigeon pea can be counted than long or flat grains. To count 1000 grains, a plate is made where there is a fixed number. This plate is made of foam, but one can make such a plate from different things like wood, aluminium, tin, plastic, and or rough paper. The plate may be of a different type based on grain size and shape. This plate is named as grain counter plate.

                                                  Fig. 1 Grain counter plate made with foam
Introduction

A researcher uses different traits of a crop to evaluate its genotype. The most important characteristics are days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, grain yield per plot, biological yield per plot, and 1000-grain weight. Based on traits a new and promising genotypes are selected.

Problems

For taking 1000 grain weight, first 1000 seeds of a crop are counted and their weight is measured (gram or kg). Usually, it is a tedious, time-consuming job to count 1000 grains because students and researchers often make mistakes while counting. Generally, researchers count 100 grains of a crop and take its weight, multiply this by 10 to get the 1000-grain weight. This method of taking 1000 grain weight by counting and weighing only 100 grains is not noterror-freee. Thus researcher might choose the wrong genotype instead of the promising genotypes.

 

                               Fig. 2 Grain counter plate where pea seeds are arranged to count


A new innovative technique for counting 1000 grain numbers

•       A method for an innovative technique of counting 1000 grains of a crop has been developed.

•       This new method is efficient and counts 1000 grains very fast without error. This method can be widely used to count the 1000-grain number of different crops.

•       This developed method saves >75% time than the hand counting method and is 100 % accurate.

•       To count 1000 grains, a plate is made where there is a fixed number.

•       This plate is made of foam, but one can make this plate from different things like wood, aluminium, tin, plastic,c and or rough paper.

•       The plate may be of a different type based on grain size and shape. This plate is named as grain counter plate.

Grain counter plate formation

•       First, take a foam having a surface area of about 30 cm2 (2 cm width and 15 cm length).

•       Divide the plate into 100 equal squares, and each small square should be 1cm²2.

•       Take a long, solid iron pin of about 5 cm, which has a diameter of about 0.8 cm.

•       Warm the point of this pin in candlelight and insert this pin in the plastic foam with about 0.5 cm, so that a permanent hole is made.

•       The depth of the hole depends upon the type of grain you want to count. Here, it is discussed for the garden pea, gram, pigeon pea, and soybean.

•       When 100 permanent holes are made, just surround the four corners with a thick paper that is raised about 1.5 cm, as seen in the figure.

•       Now the crop grain counter is ready.

•       To count 1000 grains, first count 100 grains, collect the countedgrainsn and count 100 grains. Repeat this process 9 times. Now you have counted 1000 grains. Weigh these counted grains with a balance.

Summary

•       My developed method saves >75 of % time than the hand counting method and is 100 % accurate.

•       It is error error-free method. 

Keywords: 1000 grain number,1000 train weight, grain number counting, genotype traits




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