Evaluation Of Germination Quality Of Wheat Seeds Dried In Fluidized Bed Dryer

Abstract

An attempt was conducted taking three wheat varieties (BARI gom-24, Shatabdi, Bijoy) to investigate the application and suitability of single-stage fluidized bed drying for quality wheat seeds in terms of germination percentage. Drying of wheat seed was conducted in a fluidized bed dryer at three temperatures of 35°C, 40°C, and 45°C at a constant bed thickness of 13 cm and 4.5 m/s of air velocity. Total drying time required for drying of each variety 210 min (3.5hr), 150 min (2.5hr) and 80 min (1.3hr) at temperature 35°C, 40°C, and 45°C respectively for reduction of moisture from 16.98±0.15% to 12±0.1% wb. In contrast, sun drying (33±2°C) took 270 min (4.5 hr). It was shown, the drying time required in the fluidized bed drying method was almost 22-71% shorter than the sun drying method. The germination percentage was 94.67%, 97.33%, 88% for the variety “BARI gom-24” 93.67%, 97%, and 91.33% for the variety Shatabdi and 95%, 96.67%, 89.67% for the variety Bijoy while dried in a fluidized bed dryer at temperature 35°C, 40°C, and 45°C respectively. The germination percentage of sun-dried samples was 90.67% (BARI gom-24), 92.33%. (Shatabdi) and 92% (Bijoy). In the comparison of germination, wheat seed samples dried in the fluidized bed dryer at 35°C, 40°C showed a higher germination percentage than sun drying wheat seed samples. Therefore, the proposed drying technique does not only facilitate faster removal of moisture content, and also a higher germination percentage was found than the existing sun drying method. So, fluidized bed drying can be effective for wheat seeds in Bangladesh.