EVALUATION OF SOYBEAN SEED-COAT CRACKING DURING DRYING .1. USING DRYING TESTS

In this study, seedcoat cracking during heated air drying was investig ated in five varieties of Minnesota grown soybeans. Effects of initial moisture contents, drying temperatures and time on cracking levels we re evaluated. Digital image analysis (DIA) was employed to measure ini tial sizes and shapes of soybeans in order to evaluate the influence o f physical properties of mature seeds on cracking frequency. Seedcoat cracking rates increased significantly with increase in initial moistu re content of the soybeans, drying temperature and time. Rapid water l oss at higher initial moisture contents led to greater seedcoat cracki ng. Variety, growing location, and size of soybeans had significant in fluence on seedcoat cracking. Statistical analysis indicates that inte ractions between various factors had significant influence on seedcoat cracking.