Physical and physiological quality of intermittent soybean seeds drying in the spouted bed

Abstract

The aim of this study was to perform the physical and physiological quality analysis of intermittent soybean seeds drying in the spouted bed. Mechanical damages and physiological properties were evaluated by tests of germination, first germination count, seedling length, tetrazolium, sodium hypochlorite, and X-ray. Five different intermittency profiles and two different intermittency methodologies with periodic reduction and interruption of the air flow were employed. Continuous and intermittent processes with shorter periods of reduced air flow (A.1) provided a lower degree of seed deterioration, considering both physiological and physical aspects. The findings of this study contributed to identify the distinct trend of intermittency application in the spouted bed in relation to other dryers when seed quality attributes are demanded, highlighting as a promising field for further studies.