ARS | Publication request: SENSING MOISTURE CONTENT IN CEREAL GRAINS

Submitted to: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: December 6, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: This article, prepared at the request of a technical magazine editor, explains the importance of moisture content in grain and similar crops for safe keeping and efficient processing and reviews the development of electrical moisture meters for rapid measurement of moisture content in such crops. The principles of grain moisture sensing are presented and the erelationships between the electrical characteristics, known as dielectric properties, of the grain and its moisture content are described. The influence of such variables as frequency of the alternating electric field, moisture content, temperature, and bulk density of the grain on the dielectric properties are illustrated, and techniques for taking into account their effects for reliable moisture sensing are discussed. Usefulness of the techniques for nondestructive measurement of moisture content in single grain kernels and in bulk samples of grain are described. .Newly discovered techniques for reliable sensing of moisture content in moving grain are described, which can be used for on-line monitoring of grain moisture during harvest, when transferred for storage and transport, and during processing. Such techniques will offer advantages in maintaining competitive market positions in the global economy.