Analysis of engineering properties in dry and pregerminated pusa basmati paddy seeds

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a primary dietary staple for nearly half of the world’s population, with India extensively employing both wet and dry seeding methods for its cultivation. This study, conducted at the Division of Agricultural Engineering, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, explores the engineering properties of dry and pregerminated paddy seeds from four selected Pusa Basmati varieties suitable for direct sowing. Key properties analyzed include seed dimensions, bulk density, thousand-seed mass, angle of repose, and coefficient of friction. Findings revealed that pre-germinated seeds exhibited greater dimensions and a thousand-seed mass approximately 1.6 times that of dry seeds. Bulk density values for dry seeds ranged from 481 to 501 kg/m³, while pre-germinated seeds ranged from 507 to 562 kg/m³. Coefficient of friction was highest on mild steel and lowest on glass. The angles of repose for dry seeds varied from 29.89° to 32.15°, whereas pregerminated seeds showed angles between 34.17° and 37.46°. Breaking strength values for dry seeds ranged from 15.68 N to 27.30 N, with moisture content between 4.36% and 6.55%. These insights supported the design of paddy drum seeders integrated with fertilizer applicators, promoting enhanced mechanization in rice cultivation.