Engineering Properties of Maize, Groundnut and Paddy Seeds for the Design of Seed Metering Mechanism of Multi Crop Planter

Abstract

Physical and engineering properties of agricultural grains are necessary for the design of seeding, planting, storage, handling and processing equipment. The present study was undertaken to study the physical and mechanical properties of maize (Hybrid: Yuvraj Gold), groundnut (TAG 24) and paddy (GB1) seeds for the design of seed metering mechanism of power tiller operated strip-till multi-crop planter. The average initial moisture contents on wet basis were found to be 11.61%, 9.42%, and 10.98% for maize, groundnut and paddy, respectively. The average length, width and thickness were 9.53, 12.32, 7.63; 7.53, 7.94, 2.57; and 4.20, 7.03, 2.02 mm for maize, groundnut and paddy, respectively. The average sphericity, shape index, surface area, aspect ratio and porosity were 0.71, 0.72, 0.45; 1.70, 1.65, 3.35; 141.20, 244.80, 36.52 mm2; 0.80, 0.65, 0.38; and 56.37, 39.86, 57.91% for maize, groundnut and paddy seeds, respectively. The angles of repose were 24.64, 22.64 and 35.30° for maize, groundnut and paddy, respectively. The average bulk density of maize, groundnut and paddy seeds was 754.49, 603.99 and 537.91 kg m-3, respectively. The seed properties determined relevant to the design of components of a multi-crop planter such as seed hopper, seed metering plates and seed delivery tubes. It also helps to select the materials for the fabrication of the planter.