The influence of striking action on the germinative energy and germination capacity of seeds was examined. On the basis of statistical analysis it has been found that seed moisture content was the most important factor influencing these factors; the striking element speed was less significant. Optimal moisture content for combine-harvesting is amounts 18 % to 20%.
Micro- and macro-damages of seeds appear during the harvest of pulse crops with a combine harvester. An examining stand was built in which spinning, at the velocity of a threshing drum, of the percussion element struck individually fed horse-bean and lupin seeds. Four velocities of the percussive elements (18,8 - 28,2 m/s) and 4 levels of seed humidity (15 - 24%) were used. Size and type of damages which occured during the investigations were examined and then energy and germination capacity of damaged seeds were determined. It was found out that humidity of seeds has the great influence on the capacity and energy of germination of horse-bean and lupine seeds and next it is the value of loading, expressed by the velocity of the percussive element. Multiple regression equations describe the found out dependence.
The influence of pile height on biological values of stored horse bean and lupin seeds was examined for both manually separated and combine-harvested seeds. It was found that germinative energy and germination capacity were reduced during the first three storage months and after six storage months the initial values were reached, irrespective of static loads imposed.