Factors Affecting Seed Aging
The following simple rules put forth by Harrington are a useful guide as well as measures of the effect of moisture content, temperature and relative humidity on seed ageing.
1. A one percent decreases in moisture content nearly doubles storage potential of seed.
2. A 10 0 F decreases in temperature nearly doubles storage potential of seed.
3. Good seed storage is achieved when the percentage of relative humidity in storage environment and the storage temperature in degrees Fahrenheit add up to one hundred.
These simple rules are reasonably accurate, particularly in the middle ranges of seed moisture content and temperature. For effective sealed storage two to three percent lower moisture content, as compared to open storage, is required.