SOYBEAN SEED QUALITY AS AFFECTED BY IMPACT DAMAGE

A centrifugal impacter was used to impact Beeson, Corsoy, and Williams varieties of soybeans at controlled velocities. Nine parameters used to measure seed quality of soybeans were determined as a function of impact velocity and soybean moisture content. Tests for seed quality included determining the percentages of split beans, fine material, seedcoat cracks, seed viability, Stein breakage, warm and cold germination, field emergence, and yield. The percentages of split beans and fine material increased as the impact velocity was increased and as the seed moisture decreased from 17 to 8 percent. The varieties and moisture levels of soybeans that had low percentages of splits after impact also had higher warm germination percentages. Of the varieties tested, Beeson was more susceptible to damage from impact.