A compendium on physical properties and conditioning requirements of some seed kinds Little public information exists on the physical properties and conditioning requirements of seed. For many crop seeds, the only information that exists is in companies who produce, clean, and handle seed. This manual provides as much available information as possible, assisting those already in the business as well as newcomers to the field. The book presents the physical characteristics and conditioning needs of seed. Readers can use the record formats provided to build their own records of what worked so as to remove specific contaminants from their crop seed. This information will enable them to save time, shrink conditioning costs, and reduce seed losses.

Seed conditioning turns raw harvested seed into pure seed that is free of undesirable materials, safe from pests and diseases, and that which can be planted for a good stand of healthy plants of the desired crop. The cost of conditioning is a major component of the capital investment. Conditioning is the most significant process in the seed industry. It involves machines, engineering, operations, biology, physics, plant physiology and pathology, science, and business. It must be accurate, economic and practical. To make seed conditioners more efficient, this Seed Conditioning compendium was prepared. Based on real-life experiences, trials and efforts of many conditioners were compiled and distilled into a brief, easy-to-understand form.