Sorting of groundnut kernels is believed to minimise the total aflatoxin content in a lot. Research suggest that shriveled kernels, insect-damaged kernels and discolored kernels usually have elevated aflatoxin levels. Thus, removing them from a lot would reduce the total aflatoxin load. However, soil treatment such as the supply of calcium can in fact reduce on the number of shriveled kernels. In that case, removing shriveled kernels from non-amended lot may not reflect the effect of calcium.
Dear Hendrix,
If you sort the groundnut kernels, you will be introducing some sort of bias. If you want to go ahead and sort the kernels, I will advice that you mention it in any report or publication from the experiment so that readers will be aware that your result reflects certain conditions and cannot be interpreted on a global scale. All the best!
Mr Hendrix,
Since you are testing for the presence of aflatoxin, my advice is,you may go ahead without sorting the kernels.
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