1Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mandan Bharti Agricultural College, Agwanpur, Saharsa-852201, Bihar, India
2Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721302, West Bengal, India
3Rural Development Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721302, West Bengal
*Corresponding author email: pkprabhakariitkgp@gmail.com
Online published on 23 September, 2016.
Physical properties of Chironji nut were determined as a function of moisture content, varying from 9.98 to 17.06% (d. b.). Nut length, width, thickness, and geometric mean diameter increased linearly from 9.0 to 12.1 mm, 6.9 to 10.5 mm, 5.87 to 10 mm and 7.14 to10.83 mm, respectively, with increase in moisture content from 9.98 to 17.06% (d.b.). Sphericity, volume and thousand seed weight also increased linearly from 0.79 to 0.89, 147.69 to 577.12 mm3, and 150 to 390 g, respectively. True density and bulk density decreased linearly from 854.0 to 798.6 kg.m-3 and 623.0 to 548.9 kg.m-3, respectively; while porosity increased from 27.07 to 31.27 per cent. The highest static coefficient of friction was found on plywood surface. The static coefficient of friction increased from 0.25 to 0.31, 0.59 to 0.67, and 0.66 to 0.76 on sunmica, mild steel and canvas surfaces, respectively. The angle of repose increased linearly from 28.10 to 32.90° with the increase of moisture content.
Chironji nut, physical properties, moisture content, density, coefficient of friction
