INVESTIGATION OF SOME MOISTURE DEPENDENT CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS) KERNELS

Authors

  • G.A. FUMEN Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • G. KALU National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • A. SALEH Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • S.W.J. LYOCKS Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • K.S. FUMEN Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • S. BONAT Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Keywords:

Data base, Maize kernels, Moisture dependence, Physical properties, Post-harvest handling

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine moisture-dependence of some physical properties of Sammaz14 and 37 at dry
and soaked conditions with the moisture content variation of (13.5±0.02% - 19.07±0.03% (wb) and 12.8±0.52 -
17.43±0.02% (wb), respectively. The results showed that the physical properties of the two maize varieties
significantly varied with moisture content. Mean values of length, width, thickness, arithmetic mean diameter (Da),
geometric mean diameter (Dg), square mean diameter (Ds), equivalent diameter (De), surface area (As), sphericity
(∅) and aspect ratio (Ra) of the seeds varied in from 11.07±0.56 - 12.01±0.90 mm, 7.81±0.68 - 9.54±0.67 mm and
3.31± 0.46 - 4.65±0.45 mm, 7.40±3.91-8.73±3.75 mm, 5.63±4.46-7.69±3.96 mm, 2.72±0.04-2.96±0.04 mm,
5.25±0.05-6.46±0.04 mm, 99.60±0.01-185.68±1.6 mm2, 0.60±0.02-0.69±0.01 and 0.71±0.02 and 0.79±0.02 for
sammaz14 and from 10.96±0.77-11.39±0.76 mm, 8.80±0.58-9.09±0.71 mm and 4.13±0.41-4,44±0.47 mm,
7.96±0.03 - 8.31±0.03 mm, 7.35±0.03 - 7.71±0.03 mm, 2.82±0.02 - 2.88±0.02 mm, 6.04±0.04 - 6.3±0.3 mm,
169.74±2.94 - 186.77±2.02 mm2, 0.16±0.03 - 0.18±0.03 and 0.80±0.02 - 0.83±0.03 for sammaz37, respectively.
Mean values of mass, volume true density, bulk density and porosity of the seed varieties also varied with moisture
content. The true density, bulk density and porosity varied from 0.92±0.03-0.88±0.03 kg/m3, 0.86±0.02-0.79±0.02
kg/m3 and 7.00±2.00-10.00±1.99 for sammaz14 and from 0.91±0.02-0.86±0.02, 0.88±0.02-0.69±0.03 and
3.00±0.04-20.00±0.04 for sammaz37, respectively. The mean values of angles of repose and the coefficients of static
friction of the seed varieties also varied with moisture content. Given that values of angles of repose for the seed
varieties varied from 51.00±2.55o – 62.00±3.00o for sammaz14 and from 50.00±2.00o – 62.00±2.55o for sammaz37,
respectively. While values of coefficient of static friction of the seeds against plywood, galvanized iron and plastic
glass surfaces varied from 0.45±0.04 – 0.55±0.02, 0.31±05 – 0.38±0.01 and 0.25±0.06 – 0.30±0.01 for sammaz14
and from 0.46±0.02 – 0.57±0.04, 0.330.01 – 0.40±0.04 and 0.27±0.01 – 0.35±0.03 for sammaz37, respectively. The
result of this research could be used as a valuable data and information for design of postharvest handling facilities,
equipment and machines for maize and other related crops.

Downloads

Published

2022-12-22

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Articles