Determination of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Garlic Cloves to Develop Cup Type Metering Mechanism for Battery Operated Garlic Clove Planter

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of garlic cloves (Allium sativum L.). Garlic variety of G-282 was selected for the study to develop cup type clove metering mechanism for battery operated garlic clove planter. Knowledge of physical properties of garlic clove are very important for development of machinery. Hence, study was conducted to determine physical properties of garlic variety of G-282. The average length, width, thickness, geometric and arithmetic mean diameter of garlic cloves were 27.80, 12.73, 9.45, 14.96 mm and 16.66 mm2, respectively. The average of the bulk density, sphericity, aspect ratio and surface area of garlic cloves were 481.74 kg/m3, 0.52, 0.46 and 702.71 mm2, respectively. The average moisture content (wb), angle of repose and coefficient of static friction were 49.03%, 41.37° and 0.32, respectively. These physical and mechanical properties of garlic are very essential for designing a garlic clove metering mechanism as well as garlic planter.