EFFECT OF SEED MOISTURE ON OIL CONTENT AND PROPERTIES OF Jatropha curcas L.

摘要

Moisture content is a key determinant of seed physiological quality. Determination of appropriate lowest safe moisture content for Jatropha curcas seeds was carried out in order to recover maximum oil with good physico-chemical properties. Simultaneously the effect of moisture reduction on seed viability was also tested. From this study it was deduced that seeds need to be dried to 6% or 5% moisture content to obtain maximum oil percentage. However oil properties were found to be desirable in seeds dried to 6% than that of 5% moisture content. Seed viability was not significantly influenced by reduction in moisture content which shows that drying Jatropha seeds to 6% moisture content would favour improved oil recovery of better quality without affecting seed viability.