Soybean Seed Quality During Conditioning

Experiments were conducted to determine the change in soybean seed quality at various steps in conditioning. Three cultivars, two seed moistures, two temperatures and five conditioning operations were included in the experiments. Handling soybean seeds by a conventional steel-flighting auger decreased seed quality. The airscreen cleaner and the gravity separator improved quality of soybean seedlots. Seedlots below 10% moisture declined in germination as a result of conditioning. Temperature influenced the amount of splits produced during conditioning. Low moisture seedlots conditioned at -8 to —3°C temperatures declined in germination