Quality of second-crop corn according to the period between harvest and drying

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of second-crop corn harvested with different moisture contents as a function of time before drying. The corn grains were harvested with moisture content of 28.5, 22.4, 21 and 19%, and submitted to a temporary storage for ten days, simulating the time between harvesting and drying. Quality was subsequently evaluated every two days, based on the commercial classification of the grains, sanity test and dry bulk density. The results showed that: the increase in moisture content at harvest affects the physical and sanitary quality of second-crop corn, and this effect is aggravated over time; the moisture content of 19% is the one that least affects grain quality during the ten days of temporary storage.