A simple and cost-effective method to measure moisture content for multigrain
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Abstract
An integrated moisture inspection card was developed for measuring the moisture content of grains. The moisture content of paddy, corn, and soybean influenced the color change of cobalt chloride-coated paper. Experiments using corn and soybean with coated paper were conducted in a jar with head space of 25%, 50%, or 75%, with the lid closed for 30, 45, or 60 minutes. The results showed that the highest color value in corn and soybean was produced with a head space of 75% and a testing duration of 60 minutes (HS75DT60). This differed from paddy, where the highest color value was observed for HS75DT45. This discrepancy explained that corn and soybean are oil crops with a pericarp or seed coat. For all grains, using a testing duration of 45 minutes resulted to increase coefficient of correlation, indicating a better relationship between moisture content and color values. The card production process standardizes the printed RGB color values by converting from the L*, a*, and b* values. Additionally, the card was calibrated its relation to the moisture content of various grains, making it suitable for use in a wide variety of applications.
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