Dielectric properties of sorghum seeds (Sorghum bicolour) in the radio frequency range

Abstract

The dielectric parameters of hygroscopic materials such as seeds and grains vary greatly when subjected to varying electric field. The values of dielectric parameters such as dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and other related parameters along with dielectric relaxation spectrum has tremendous application in in processing industries, as it helps in determine online and instantaneous moisture content of seed lots during harvesting, processing, handling and transportation and in controlled heating without quality damage. For these operations the effect of frequency moisture and temperature of the material over wide frequency range is required. This paper presents the dielectric properties of sorghum seed (Sorghum bicolour) over the radio frequency range of 0.50 kHz to 10 MHz, determined by Hewlett-Packard (HP-4194A) impedance/gain phase analyzer over the moisture range of 2.9% to 18.5% with corresponding bulk density and temperature range of 0.812-0.760 gm/ cm3 and 30-45oC , respectively.