Engineering Properties of Onion Seeds for Sustainable Agricultural Machinery Design

Abstract

The engineering properties of the crop are an important factor in effectively designing agricultural machines. In terms of onion seeding or planting, various physical, mechanical, and frictional properties play a crucial role in the development of planting machines and performance assessment. The study on the engineering properties of onion seeds and their implications for agricultural machinery design supports the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Efficient and precise planting systems can optimize resource utilization, reduce wastage, and enhance overall agricultural productivity. This focus on engineering aspects in machinery design indirectly contributes to sustainable agriculture practices, which prioritize minimizing environmental impacts while ensuring food security. Ultimately, by emphasizing the importance of engineering properties, the study promotes the development of agricultural systems that align with sustainability goals. In this study, various engineering properties of onion seeds concerning the different soaking times have been studied. An experiment was performed to assess the change in engineering properties of onion seeds (Gavran, Puna fursungi, and KSP-117) by soaking them in water with a predefined duration (Dry seed, Day 1 and Day 2). The average moisture content of onion seeds varied from 9.44 to 40.87 % (d.b.). Sphericity, aspect ratio, geometric mean diameter, and thousand seed weight varied in the range from 0.72 to 0.77, 0.71 to 0.76, 2.05 to 2.18 mm, and 3.50 to 6.75 g, respectively. The bulk density of onion seeds was observed in the range of 489.64 to 526.24 kg/m3. It was observed that there was a gradual increment in bulk density with an increase in soaking time. However, a gradually decreasing trend was observed in the case of true density. The true density of onion seeds varied from 1127.14 to 1245.64 kg/m3. The coefficient of friction of onion seeds on a selected material (Wood, Plastic, Mild steel, and Aluminum) showed gradual growth concerning the soaking time.