ABSTRACT
After harvesting and threshing, partially field-dried seeds must be further processed by drying to an optimum moisture content to prevent seed germination, retain maximum quality (genetic purity, viability and germination, and analytical, physical, and storage quality), prevent bacterial and fungal growth, and retard infestation by mites and insects. Seeds of different crop plants like cereals, oilseeds, legumes, and grasses differ considerably in their physical and biological make-up. The moisture content in seeds varies according to their grain type, chemical composition, moisture at harvest, harvesting methods, relative humidity of the atmosphere, and seasonal fluctuations (1,2).
