Water Absorption Characteristics of Obatanpa and Mamaba Maize Hybrids (Zea mays)

Water absorption characteristics of two newly-released maize hybrids, Obatanpa and Mamaba, during soaking were measured at four temperatures of 30, 40, 50 and 60(o)C. The absorption kinetics followed the Fick's law of diffusion during the first hours of soaking. The values determined for water diffusion coefficients varied from 7.31 x 10-12 to 9.33 x 10-12 m2/s and from 6.30 x 10-12 to 8.25 x 10-12 m2/s for Obatanpa and Mamaba respectively. An Arrhenius-type equation was used to relate the diffusion coefficient of Obatanpa and Mamaba to temperature, and the energy of activation for Obatanpa and Mamaba was estimated. The values determined were 6.54 kJ/mol and 6.82 kJ/mol for Obatanpa and Mamaba respectively.