DIMENSIONAL AND DENSITY DATA FOR SEEDS OF CEREAL GRAIN AND OTHER CROPS

Abstract

Dimensions of seeds of more than twenty different kinds and types of grain and other crops were determined by caliper measurements. Individual kernel and seed weights were obtained, and mean volumes were determined by air–comparison pycnometer measurements for use in determining kernel and seed densities. Seed densities ranged from 1.002 for safflower to 1.460 for milled rice. Test weight (bulk density) measurements were also taken and moisture contents were determined by standard tests. Collectively, these data supplement the limited kernel and seed data currently available in the literature for reference. The product of three orthogonal dimensions (length, width, and thickness) was calculated for each kind of seed. A volume coefficient was determined as the ratio of the measured mean volume to the orthogonal–dimension product. The volume coefficients, which ranged from 0.222 for oil–type sunflower seeds to 0.588 for sweetclover seeds, are useful in estimating seed volume from seed dimensional data. With use of the volume coefficient, seed density can be estimated for a particular kind of seed from seed weight and dimensions.