Name two factors that influence coating uniformity on seeds.

• A. Seed color and storage temperature.
• B. Seed size/shape and slurry viscosity or coating formulation, plus treater equipment settings.
• C. Market price of seed.
• D. Water pH and seed replication.

Answer: (B)

Coating uniformity comes from how well the seed surface can be covered in a consistent layer, which depends on the seed’s physical characteristics and the coating system itself. Seed size and shape determine surface area, geometry, and how seeds move and stack in the coating process. If seeds vary a lot in size or have irregular shapes, some seeds may receive more coating while others get less, leading to uneven coverage. The slurry viscosity or coating formulation defines how the coating flows, wets the seed surface, and dries. A slurry that’s too thick may not wet evenly or may cling unevenly, while one that’s too thin can fly off or dry too quickly, also causing nonuniform coatings. Equipment settings—how fast seeds rotate or tumble, the application rate, nozzle type, spray pattern, and drying time—control how evenly the coating is distributed and retained on every seed as they move through the system.

That’s why these factors are the best choice: they directly govern the interaction between the seed surface and the coating material, plus how the coating is applied and dries. Other options don’t address the mechanics of coating spread and adhesion in the same way; seed color and storage temperature don’t typically modify how the coating coats the seed, market price is unrelated to the coating process, and water pH and seed replication aren’t primary drivers of uniformity in standard seed coating operations.