Investigating moisture‐induced changes in the engineering properties and color attributes of pigmented different wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) varieties

Abstract

Engineering properties of grains and agricultural commodities are significant for process and equipment design which is affected by moisture content. Three different varieties of pigmented wheat grain at different moisture content ranges from 12 to 18% (db) were undertaken for the detailed investigation. Grain length, width, thickness, sphericity, volume, surface area, porosity, and angle of repose increased from 6.3 to 7.6 mm, 2.4 to 3.3 mm, 2.1 to 2.9 mm, 0.50 to 0.56, 18.3 to 40.4 mm3, 28.3 to 48.0 mm2, 38.6 to 43.8%, and 22.0 to 27.0° with an increase in moisture, respectively. The coefficient of friction was increased throughout the range and maximum friction was found on a wood surface for black, and rubber sheet for blue and purple wheat and the minimum friction was observed in glass sheet for black and purple and aluminum for blue wheat. However, bulk density, true density, and hardness was reduced from 750.6 to 673.6 kg/m3, 1,226.2 to 1,192.0 kg/m3, and 166.2 to 66.0 kg, respectively. Lightness (L), a value (red-green axis), b value (yellow-blue axis), hue angle, and chroma value decreased from 40.7 to 29.2, 6.6 to 1.5, 9.8 to 6.0, 80.2 to 54.4, and 70.3 to 35.6 respectively, with an increase in moisture (12 to 18%, db). Practical applications Determining the engineering characteristics of cereal is imperative to upgrade the design parameters of agricultural equipment used in their production, handling, and storage processes such as sorting, isolating, and cleaning, also to decide the optimization of grain metering gadget in pneumatic grower and precision planting machine to suit each estimate of these grains. The shape of the grains is a significant criterion that impacts passing on the attribute of solid materials via air or water. The thickness and porosity of the wheat grain help measure the containers and capacity holders. Frictional properties like the static coefficient of friction and angle of repose are helped in designing the storage containers, chutes, containers, screw conveyers, threshers, and forage harvesters. Natural and hereditary aspect is liable for the variation in engineering properties of wheat grain varieties.