Water Absorption/Desorption Of Four Bambara Groundnut (Vigna Subterranea) Cultivars.

ABSTRACT

The present research was undertaken to evaluate the hydration and desorption patterns of four cultivars of bambara groundnut seed at four temperature (30°C, 40°C, 50°C and 60°C). Desorption pattern at various relative humidities (RH) were also determined. Temperature affected the equilibrum soaking lime of seeds. The cream, brown and black colored cultivars showed greater similarity to one another while the mottled red cultivar showed a difference that was not statistically different (p > 0.05). Rate kinetic (R) values of the mottled red cultivar was highest at the lower temperatures (6.4 x I 02 at 30°C and 4.4 x I 2 at 40°C). R-value of the cream-coloured cultivar was highest at 50°C (6.4 x 102) while R. value of the black coloured cultivar was highest at 60°C (6.5 x I 02). 1)esorption time increased with an increase in RH. The equilibrium desorption time of the mottled red cultivar was significantly higher (p