Two commercial intermittent dryers, one slow (60oC and 65oC air temperature) and another rapid (50oC), were tested to evaluate the water content decrease (20% to 13%) and their influence on the physiological quality of Lupinus angustifolius L. seeds. The seeds were evaluated through physiological analysis (germination, accelerated ageing and field emergence), stored for 3 and 6 months. After six months the field emergence results were 81%, 89%, 90% and 83% for the slow 60oC, 65oC, rapid (50oC) intermittent dryers and for shade drying, respectively. The drying speed of the rapid (50oC) and slow (65oC - 60oC) intermittent dryers were 1.1, 2.3 and 2.7 percentage points per hour. It was conclude that: a) the slow drier is more efficient in drying than the rapid drier; b) the lupine seed physiological quality is not affected by the tested dryers.
Lupinus angustifolius L.; seed; drying; quality