Effect of Natural Drying Methods on Moisture Content and Germination of Italian Ryegrass Seed in Saemangeum Reclaimed Land of Korea
This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of natural drying methods on moisture content reduction and germination of Italian ryegrass seeds in Saemangeum reclaimed land, Kimje, Korea, from 2024 to 2025. The natural drying treatments included seed spread thicknesses (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm), three seed reversal frequencies (1, 2 and 3 times per day), and two reversal methods (seed-only reversal and complete mixing of seed with a dry mat). A thinner spread thickness significantly accelerated moisture reduction (p<0.001). Although the effects of reversal frequency (p<0.017) and reversal method on moisture reduction were statistically significant, the magnitude of the differences was small, approximately 1~2%. Seeds with an initial moisture content of approximately 31.5% required 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 days to reach 14% moisture when dried at spread thickness of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm, respectively. When seeds with an initial moisture content of 31.5% were dried at a thickness of 2.5 cm, the germination rate was 82.0%, which did not differ significantly from the rates observed at 5.0 cm (83.7%) and 7.5 cm (87.2%). These results suggest that, to achieve faster drying and maintain high seed quality, Italian ryegrass should be harvested at 30~35% seed moisture content, dried directly in the cultivation field, and spread at a thickness of 2.5 to 5.0 cm.