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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #136700
Title: PRINCIPLES FOR MICROWAVE SENSING OF MOISTURE CONTENT IN GRAIN

Author
item Nelson, Stuart
item TRABELSI, SAMIR - UNIV OF GA ATHENS, GA

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2002
Publication Date: 7/29/2002
Citation: NELSON, S.O., TRABELSI, S. PRINCIPLES FOR MICROWAVE SENSING OF MOISTURE CONTENT IN GRAIN. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS, ST. JOSEPH, MI. 2002. ASAE PAPER NO. 026008.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The importance of cereal grain moisture content in determining time of harvest and in preserving grain quality is described. Techniques for moisture measurement, including electronic moisture meters, are also discussed briefly, and the need for better moisture sensing techniques for modern agricultural on-line moisture monitoring is described. Principles of microwave free-space measurements involving attenuation and phase determination are explained, and density-independent functions of the grain permittivity are presented that permit reliable moisture sensing applicable to moving grain in which bulk density variation occurs. A new moisture calibration function, based on complex-plane plots of dielectric constant and loss factor, each divided by bulk density, is described, which promises a universal calibration for different types of grain and seed. This important advantage should encourage commercial development for practical use.