MICROWAVE RESONATOR FOR SENSING MOISTURE-CONTENT AND MASS OF SINGLE WHEAT KERNELS

Principles for determining moisture content and mass of individual whe at kernels by microwave resonator measurements are discussed and data are presented showing the application of these principles. By measurin g the shift in the resonant frequency and the change in the resonator transmission characteristics when a wheat kernel is inserted into the resonator, moisture content of the kernel may be determined independen t of its mass and apparently independent of wheat variety. The same me asurement can simultaneously determine the kernel mass. Moisture conte nts in the range from 10 to 21%, wet basis, were determined with an un certainty of 0.8% moisture. Uncertainty in the mass determination was less than 1 mg.