Drying and storing sunflower seeds

Proper post-harvest operations guarantee better physiological quality for sunflower seeds, but for this to happen, after harvesting, due care must be taken with transformations, deterioration and losses due to the simultaneous transfer of heat and mass between the seeds and the heated air in the drying processes, monitoring the temperature of the drying air and the mass of the seeds, the relative humidity and the air flow in the dryer. Carelessness in the drying process can damage cell structures, denature proteins and cause cracks and changes in color, reducing the physical and physiological quality of the seeds. In storage, it is essential to monitor the water content of the seeds, taking into account the hygroscopic equilibrium humidity of storage and to keep the mass of the seeds at low temperatures, reducing the plant’s respiration process.