Determination of seed moisture content in small-seeded pasture legumes
1987
Taylor, G.B. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Wembley (Australia). Div. of Animal Production)
Changes in weight of permeable and impermeable seed of Medicago truncatula, M. polymorpha and Trifolium subterraneum, which were either left intact or cut in half, were measured in air-ovens at 105 deg C and drying intact seeds for 1 h at 130 deg C, as specified by the International Seed Testing Association, seriously underestimated moisture content in most seed samples. Seeds dried to approximately constant weight at 130 deg C appeared to overestimate moisture contents by about 1, presumably because of volatilisation losses of material other than unbound water. At 105 deg C, halved seeds lost weight rapidly during the first say then slightly gained weight for several days before resuming a gradual weight loss. Drying intact seeds of M. truncatula and T. subterraneum at 105 deg C for 2 days gave seed moisture contents similar to those obtained from halved seeds. Intact impermeable seeds of M. polymorpha were very much slower than those of the other species to lose weight, taking 14 days to approach an apparent moisture content close to that of halved seeds. Drying halved seeds for 24 h at 105 Deg C appears the most reliable technique.
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