Effect of moisture content on physical properties of African baobab seed

Effect of moisture content on some physical properties of African baobab seeds was studied within moisture content range of 5.3% to 29.6% (d.b). The length, width, thickness of seed increased from 10.69 to 11.62 mm, 8.55 to 9.38 mm and 6.85 to 7.3 mm respectively as moisture content increased. Seed roundness and sphericity decreased linearly from 95.2 to 81.7% and 83.9 to 79% respectively as moisture content increased. One thousand seed weight increased from 400.9 to 423.1 g as moisture content increased. As moisture content increased from 5.3% to 29.6% (d.b) bulk density decreased from 0.676 to 0.593 g/cm³ while true density and porosity increased from 1.077 to 1.11 g/cm³ and 37.2 to 46.5% respectively. Angle of repose increased from 22.3 to 32.6° as moisture content increased. Seed static coefficient of friction on different surfaces increased in the order of hessian bag (0.6322 to 0.708), galvanized steel sheet (0.5095 to 0.5681), glass (0.404 to 0.5774) and plywood (0.3959 to 0.5228) as moisture content increased. Specific heat varied from 1266.45 to 1562.12 J/kg K as moisture content increased from 5.3% to 29.6% (d.b). Regression analysis of results showed that all properties followed linear trend as moisture content increased except specific heat that exhibited a second order polynomial increase with moisture content.