Cracking and dehulling shriveled and wrinkled soybeans

Abstract

Midwest drought conditions in 1988 resulted in soybeans with shriveled and wrinkled seed coats. Processors expressed concerns about the processing of such misshapen seeds. The objective of this research was to determine the cracking and dehulling properties of shriveled and wrinkled (S/W) soybeans. Five lots of soybeans, two sound lots and three containing shriveled and wrinkled seeds, were cracked and dehulled, as were the sized and sorted fractions of these lots. Processing variables (% aspiration liftings, fiber removal in the liftings, % fines in the liftings, protein recovery, oil recovery, meats size distribution and oil-free meats fiber content) indicated significant differences between whole sound lots and whole lots containing S/W. There were differences in processing properties between these three types of soybeans (from best to worst)-sound soybeans from sound lots, sound soybeans from lots containing S/W beans and S/W soybeans. Size had an effect on processing; smaller beans did not process as well. The economic impact of S/W conditions was estimated by using a simulation model of soybean processing. Although the presence of S/W soybeans affected cracking and dehulling properties, it had a negligible effect on the Estimated Processed Value per Bushel (EPVB). Calculated blends of sound and S/W lots containing 20% S/W seeds had a decrease in EPVB of less than 0.2%.