A b s t r a c t. In the present study relaxation test was used to evaluate the influence of moisture content of amaranth seeds on their mechanical parameters. The first approximation was to assumed linear viscoelasticity of the studied material. A generalised Maxwell model was suggested for the description of seeds reaction to loading. The model took into consideration relaxation that appeared during preliminary deformation. Relation between seed moi­sture content and the parameters of the model, energy and maximum deformation was considered. Significant differences were found in the course of stress relaxation of the samples in the studied moisture range (9.5-34.8%). A strong influence of moisture content on both energy and maximum deformation was observed in the first phase of the test.