Preventing Imbibition Damage before the Germination of Soybean Seeds (Part 2)

——Production of Moisture-Adjusted Soybean Seeds using a Humidity-controlled Recirculated Batch Dryer——

Abstract

To protect soybeans from imbibition damage, we have newly developed equipment that consists of a recirculated batch dryer and a humidifier to produce effectively moisture-adjusted soybean seeds. To protect the seeds from mechanical damage, the bucket elevator speed and lower-screw speed are decreased to 50% and 70%, respectively, of standard speed, and the lower screw is coated with a smooth material. Our experimental results show that the moisture absorbance rate is about 0.3%/h, with a standard deviation of 0.2%w.b. at a moisture content of 15.2%w.b., and the rate of mechanically damaged soybean seeds is cut to less than 2%, which has little influence on emergence establishment when soybean seeds are sown after being processed in the recirculated batch dryer.