Corn Seed Drying Optimization Using Predrying and Air Drying Temperature Treatment.

Abstract

Drying is an important operation in corn seed processing. Long duration of seed drying can reduce seed viability. The high moisture content causes the initiation of seed germination and increase fungal attacks, thus it will loss seed viability. Long duration of seed drying also decreases production capacity and will increase production cost. One of the efforts to increase drying rate is increase air drying temperature. But, the high temperature in seed drying will give risk. It will give effect on chemical composition destruction so it could be decline seed viability. Maintaining seed viability could be done by using predrying treatment. Predrying was done by blowing air using blower machine and it applied before ear corn dried with heated air. Combination between predrying and air drying temperature were the effective treatment to increase drying rate and maintain corn seed viability. The objectives of the research were to increase corn seed drying efficency by develop design of drying system and combine between predrying treatment with air drying temperature to get maximum seed quality. This research was conducted at PT BISI International, Tbk. on June till October 2012. This research consisted of three phases, 1. Drying system design, 2. Corn seed drying optimization, and 3. Economic analysis. The first research consisted of two phases, 1. Mini box dryer assembling, and 2. Mini box dryer testing. Corn seed drying optimization consisted of periods of predrying (0, 12, 24, and 36 hours) and temperature level factor (40, 45, 50, and 55 °C), used randomized complete block design with three replications. Physical and physiological quality were analyzed to find treatment which produced good seeds. Economic analysis were used to find treatment which give highest of B/C Ratio. The result showed that predrying during 36 hours on temperature setting 50 °C was the optimum treatment for corn seed drying, because it had good germination and had highest B/C Ratio.