The soaking period is very important for standardizing the electrical conductivity test since it directly influences the test results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the curves of absorption and electrical conductivity for different-sized castor bean seeds. Seeds of four castor bean varieties, IAC 80, IAC 226, BRS 188 Paraguaçu and Al Guarany 2002, were studied. Seeds were collected from all racemes of the castor bean plants and classified by weight and shape. Subsequently, the seeds were classified by size using screens according to the cultivar. The curves of the absorption and electrical conductivity values were obtained by the weighing and systematic reading of four replications of 50 castor bean seeds until the end of the soaking process. Seeds of the IAC 80, BRS 188 Paraguaçu and Al Guarany 2002 cultivars with a greater thickness and width had a higher moisture content, and this may increase solute leaching during soaking. In the IAC 226 cultivar, the seed moisture content and solute leaching from seeds with different thicknesses is related to their quality.
Ricinus communis; absorption; leaking
