Proper storage conditions are essential for maintaining the viability of seeds and safety of dry goods. The seed viability period during storage can be cut in half for each 1% increase in moisture content or 6°C increase in temperature. Fungal growth and pests are also associated with warm, moist conditions, and it is estimated that one-third of crop production is lost to poor storage in the humid tropics.

Optimal seed and commodity storage is cold and dry, conditions that are difficult to achieve in the humid tropics. Cold storage requires electricity, something that may not be easy to access in rural communities. Drying is a common method for seed and commodity preservation, but it can be difficult to accurately measure seed moisture content in the field.

An article recently published in Agricultural & Environmental Letters focuses on the relationship between seed moisture content and relative humidity and describes a simple way to measure the relative humidity of these products. Read more…