Soybean seed quality after harvesting with two types of harvester and two storage times

Soybean mechanical harvest may bring qualitative losses to seeds. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of soybean seeds mechanically harvested by axial and conventional threshing systems, at different displacement speeds of the harvesters, before and after the storage period of six months. A randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement with four replications was used. The main plots were the harvest systems and the split-plots were the storage times. The harvest systems were: axial flow harvester, at 6, 8 and 10km h(-1), conventional harvester, at 4 and 6km h(-1), and manual harvest. Germination, percentage of normal seedlings, emergency speed index, sand emergency and mechanical damage of soybean seeds were evaluated. The results showed that the use of axial flow and conventional harvesters did not affect the emergency speed index, vigor and germination of soybean seeds. However, the axial flow system provided less mechanical damage. The increase of displacement speed, within the ranges of the operating parameters recommended by the manufacturer, did not change seed quality. Storage reduced seed vigor.