Methods of seed drying

1. Sun drying:

• This method involves for reducing the moisture level of crops before harvest, after harvest and after threshing of seeds on the threshing floor in a couple of days.
• Requires no additional expenditure; some diseases of seeds can also be controlled by the sun rays known as heliotherapy.
• Delayed harvests, risk of weather damage and increased likelihood of mechanical admixture.

2. Forced air drying:

• Natural or heated air is forced on to the seeds.
• The air passing through damp seeds pick up water. The evaporation cools the air and the seed.
• The heat necessary for evaporating the water comes from the temperature drop of the air.

Methods of forced air drying

a) Natural air drying: Natural air used.

b) Drying with supplemental heat: small quantities of heat to raise temperature about 10-200C to reduce RH.

c) Heated air drying: Air is heated considerably as much as 1100F.