1Scientist (SS), Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
2Director, Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
3Senior Scientist, Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
*Corresponding author e-mail address: a.a_sona@yahoo.in
Online published on 23 September, 2016.
In order to design equipment for processing of buckwheat grain (Fagopyrumesculentum), some of the physical properties were determined as a function of moisture content, varying from 9.89% to 20.48% (d.b). Length, width, thickness, arithmetic mean diameter and geometric mean diameter of buckwheat grains increased significantly (p≤0.01) from 5.29 to 6.02 mm, 3.69 to 4.16 mm, 3.34 to 3.71 mm, 4.11 to 4.63 mm and 4.02 to 4.52 mm, respectively, with increase in moisture content. Sphericity had significant differences with moisture content of the grain, and ranged from 0.752 to 0.785. Thousand grain weight increased linearly from 24.26 g to 26.61 g. A linear significant increase of grain surface area from 51.04 mm2 to 64.57 mm2 was observed in the moisture range. Bulk density and true density decreased linearly (p≤0.01) from 669.10 kg.m−3 to 615.38 kg.m−3 and 1136.88 kg.m−3 to 1111.11 kg.m−3, respectively, whereas porosity increased significantly (p≤0.01) from 41.15 to 44.62 per cent. Angle of repose significantly increased from 25.45 to 28.78 degrees. At all moisture contents, the static and dynamic coefficient of friction were highest on mild steel surface and lowest on glass surface. The coefficient of internal friction increased linearly from 0.753 to 0.891.
Buckwheat, physical properties, moisture content
