Measurement of Moisture Content in Seeds of Some North American Hardwoods

Abstract

Current International rules (International Seed Testing Association, 1966) for determination of moisture content specify the air-oven method at 105 °C for all tree seeds except those of Ables, Cedrus. Fagus, Picea, and Tsuga, for which the toluene distillation method must be used. Calibration of air-oven methods against a good reference method, such as toluene distillation, has frequently been recommended, but data have been published for only a few species (Buszewicz, 1962; Hart and Golumbic, 1966). Seeds of major North American hardwoods are being studied at the Forest Tree Seed Laboratory at State College, Mississippi, and this paper summarizes data on moisture-content measurement for three important species: Paxinus pennsylvanica Marsh, Liquidambar styraciflua L., and Platanus occidentalis L. The studies had three objectives: to determine suitable air-oven schedules by comparison of air-oven measurements with toluene measurements on the same seed lots; to test the suitability of an electronic moisture meter with these species; to establish equilibrium moisture contents for seeds stored at various humidities and temperatures.

Citation

Bonner, F. T. 1972. Measurement of Moisture Content in Seeds of Some North American Hardwoods. In: Proceedings International Seed Testing Association. State College, MS: USDA-Forest Service, Forest Tree Seed Laboratory 37(3):975-983.