Effect of Moisture Content on Physical Properties of Groundnut Seed for Planter Development
H. K. Venkata Reddy *
Department of Farm Machinery & Power Engineering, Kerala Agricultural University, India.
Manoj Mathew
Department of Farm Machinery & Power Engineering, Kerala Agricultural University, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The physical properties of groundnut seeds were calculated as a function of moisture content. The average length, breadth and thickness of the seed various from 13.09 to 14.10, 8.68 to 9.56 and 7.07 to 7.82 mm, respectively. As the moisture content, increased from 8.13 to 79.80% d.b. the roundness and sphericity increased from 92% to 94% and 68% to 71%, respectively. Also the seed volume increased from 0.803 to 0.984 cm3, 1000 seed weight, W1000 from 328 to 380 g, the angle of repose from 32.620 to 36.50 and the bulk density decreased from 0.845 to 0.81 g cm-3 for the same range of moisture content. The static coefficient of friction increased on three structural surfaces namely, stainless steel (2.013-2.32), aluminum (2.47-2.62) and wooden (2.25-2.42) as the moisture content increased from 8.13 to 79.80% d.b.
Keywords: Ground nut, physical properties, moisture content, sphericity and surface area