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Measurement of Moisture Content in Seeds of Some North American Hardwoods

Informally Refereed

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.

Keywords

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh, Liquidambar styraciflua L., Plantanus occidentalis L.

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.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/42590