Abstract

This study investigated the engineering properties of three cultivars of halim (Lepidium sativum) seeds across moisture levels ranging from 5% – 20%. These characteristics are crucial for designing and developing systems for handling, transport, processing, and storage, as well as for evaluating seed quality. Dimensional, gravimetric, frictional, and mechanical attributes were examined in relation to moisture content, and regression models were developed to describe these relationships. The findings indicated that all measured properties were significantly influenced by moisture variation. Among the cultivars, HS-2 exhibited the largest seed dimensions, followed by HS-3 and HS-1. At 5% moisture content, the HS-2 seeds had average length (L), width (W), thickness (T), and thousand seed weight values of 2.21 mm, 0.89 mm, 0.69 mm, and 1.95 g, respectively. With increasing moisture, the arithmetic mean diameters (D_a) and geometric mean diameters (D_g) of HS-2 increased from 1.26 – 1.35 mm and 1.10 – 1.19 mm, respectively, while sphericity ranged from 0.50 – 0.51. Over the same moisture range, bulk and true densities decreased from 762.52 – 678.76 kg/m³ and 1235.62 – 1148.33 kg/m³, respectively, while porosity increased from 38.29% – 40.89%. The angle of repose also rose from 18.75° – 25.38° as moisture content increased. Various parameters such as seed dimensions, volume (V_u), surface area (S_a), thousand seed weight, angle of repose, and static friction showed a linear increase with moisture, while bulk density (ρ_b), true density (ρ_t), and rupture force decreased linearly. Among the tested surfaces, the highest coefficient of static friction was recorded on plywood, followed by galvanized iron and glass. These engineering properties are fundamental for the design and optimization of equipment used in harvesting, processing, handling, sorting, and packaging of halim seeds.

PDF (Download Full text)