Optical sensors have shown good capabilities for detecting and monitoring plant diseases, including fusariosis. The spectral characteristics of the excitation and luminescence of wheat, oat and barley seeds were measured using a diffraction spectrofluorimeter in the range of 180–700 nm. It was found that during infection, the spectral density of the absorption capacity increases and the curve η_e(λ) shifts upwards in the range of 380–450 nm. The shift to the left is also noticeable for the wheat and barley spectra. The photoluminescence flux at λ_e = 232 nm increased by 1.71 times when oat seeds were infected, by 2.63 times when wheat was infected and by 3.14 times when barley was infected. The dependences of the infection degree on the photoluminescence flux are statistically and reliably approximated by linear regression models with determination coefficients R² = 0.83–0.95. The method of determining the degree of infection can include both absolute measurements of photoluminescence flux in the range of 290–380 nm and measurements of the flux ratios when excited by radiation of 232 nm and 424 nm for wheat and 485 nm for barley. An optoelectronic device for remote monitoring can be designed in order to implement the methodology for determining the degree of infection of agricultural plant seeds.

As a result of the analysis of developed earlier mathematical models of the process of seeds purification on a two-tier lattice mill of polymeric materials the possibility of significant improvement in the quality of seed treatment and performance at the same quality at the expense of more rational technological schemes and modernization of the sieve camp’s were revealed. Constructive changes were made in the lattice mill with using a new type of polymer sieves. Result of this experimental studies confirm the identified possibility of intensification of the process of seed cleaning - completeness of waste allocation increased from 0,653 to 0.75, i.e. 15 %, performance for the same quality of cleaning have increased by 24%.

The paper highlights that the study of the soybean seed separation processes in a vertical deep aspirating channel contributes to the improvement of technical and economic indicators in grain cleaning equipment. (Research purpose) The research aims to substantiate the thickness of narrowing partitions in the vertical deep aspirating channel. (Materials and methods) A prototype of a vertical deep aspirating channel with three sections of varying height, was used for cleaning soybean seeds. The optimal thickness of the narrowing partitions in the channel has been justified. Impurity extraction completeness and seed separation efficiency within a vertical aspirating channel were assessed for soybean seed cleaning under maximum specific grain load conditions. (Results and discussion) The following parameters have been determined: the optimal thickness for the narrowing partitions is 70 millimeters under a maximum specific grain load of 5 kilograms per square centimeter per hour. Seed losses do not exceed 3 percent in the aspirating channel with narrowing partitions, with impurity extraction completeness of 74 percent for the «Waste» fraction. The efficiency of the separation process stands at 71 percent, and the purity level of the «Seeds» fraction reaches 81 percent in a single pass during the preliminary cleaning stage. (Conclusions) It has been established that the use of narrowing partitions in a vertical aspirating channel during soybean seed cleaning leads to an increase in the specific grain load up to 5 kilograms per square centimeter per hour, compared to 2 kilograms per square centimeter per hour achieved by traditional pneumatic separation channels. The proposed technical solution reduces soybean seed losses to 3 percent (compared to the initial requirements of no more than 10 percent) in a single pass and reduces machine power consumption from 4.5 to 2.25 kilowatt-hours.

It was showed the results of the determination the optimal parameters of the narrowing partitions installed in pneumatic channels with a vertical up air flow for cleaning seeds. The installation narrowing partitions in pneumatic channels makes it possible to increase the productivity and efficiency for cleaning seeds from difficult–to–remove impurities by no less than 20%, while the optimal ratio of the width of the partitions and the depth of the pneumatic canal sections varies from 0.3 to 0.5.

The paper highlights that air (aspiration) separation of meal particles by density and size using an air flow is the most efficient and economically viable method for removing husks from protein in sunflower meal. Reducing husk content and increasing protein concentration enhances the feed value and broadens the application scope of the meal, particularly in highyield livestock farming. (Research purpose) The study aims to improve the efficiency of protein fraction extraction during the purification of sunflower meal in a vertical pneumatic channel equipped with battery-type and column-type air accelerators, as well as input flow deflectors. (Materials and methods) The research was conducted at the Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM using a model of a pneumatic separation channel. The column-type and battery-type air accelerators ensured uniform airflow distribution across the input material layer, improving separation efficiency and enhancing the precision of input material separation. (Results and discussion) The developed model of the vertical pneumatic channel provides a protein yield of at least 75 percent and an impurity removal rate of no less than 70 percent. (Conclusions) The live cross-section coefficient of the accelerator in the model pneumatic channel should be maintained at 50–60 percent, and the height of the battery-type accelerator should range from 55 to 75 millimeters. The recommended installation height of the battery-type accelerator above the input flow deflectors is between 160 and 220 millimeters. The optimal specific load of the processed material is up to 2.0 kilograms per cubic centimeter per hour. At a machine throughput of up to 2 tons per hour, the protein content in the raw material ranges from 35 to 40 percent.

In mathematical models of the separation process in a gravity column, the coefficient of bar vibration is frequently disregarded as seeds and impurities move along the curved surface of the gravity column, which, in turn, affects the quality of separation. It is important to note that the vibration coefficient directly depends on the design parameters of the comb bars in the gravity column. (Research purpose) The research aims to experimentally validate the theoretical findings from a probabilistic mathematical model elucidating the process of soybean seed separation within a gravity column. (Materials and methods) For laboratory research, a gravity column prototype with a single comb was developed. Parameters such as the effective length of the comb bars, the cross-sectional diameter of the bar, and the comb angle inclination were determined. (Results and discussion) It was found out that, under the condition of self-cleaning combs, the separation coefficient μ = 3.6 meters to the power of negative one. During bar vibration, the functions of the bending moment with vertical coefficients a = –30, b = –31.9, and horizontal coefficients a ̃= – 0.58, b ̃= –1.47 Pascal to the power of negative one per meter to the power of negative one, yield a fairly high statistical correlation between the developed mathematical model and experimental values (coefficient of determination 0.96). The effective length of the bars was determined to be within the range from 125 to 150 millimeters of the comb, with a cross-sectional diameter of the bars measuring 1.5 millimeters. (Conclusions) Experimental validation of the probabilistic mathematical model regarding the process of soybean seed separation in the gravity column was conducted. Further ways to intensify the separation process are aimed at finding a new design solution for the shape of the comb bars.