Effects of drying air temperature and humidity on stress cracks and breakage of maize kernels

Samples of a single commercial maize hybrid were dried in a thin-layer drye r at four different air temperatures (40, 60, 80 and 100 degreesC) and two levels of humidity lair saturation temperature of 5 and 25 degreesC). The d ried samples were subject to stress crack analysis and, after a tempering s tage, were tested for breakage susceptibility. Stress cracking and breakage susceptibility both increased with drying temperature. Air humidity had no significant effect on either measure but higher drying air humidity result ed in a much longer drying time at the lowest air temperature (40 degreesC) . (C) 2000 Silsoe Research Institute.