Physical properties of monogerm sugarbeet (Befa vulgaris var. altissima) seeds

Abstract

Physical properties of seeds of ‘Gina’ and ‘Leila’ monogerm sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris var. altissima) varieties as a function of moisture content were evaluated. Physical properties of sugarbeet varieties such as unit seed mass, thousand‐seed (1000‐seed) mass, bulk density, true density, seed volume, angle of repose, and coefficient of friction on various surfaces were determined. The average unit seed mass and 1000‐seed mass ranged from 0.0117 to 0.0133 g and from 10.77 to 12.00 g, as the moisture content increased from 8.55% to 17.14% (dry basis) for ‘Gina’. The average unit seed mass and 1000‐seed mass ranged from 0.0112 to 0.0121 g and from 12.07 to 13.70g, as the moisture content increased from 6.88% to 19.28% (dry basis) for ‘Leila’. In the moisture content range, studies on re‐wetted sugarbeet seeds showed that the seed volume increased from 0.0122 to 0.0147mm3, and from 0.0137 to 0.016mm3, for ‘Gina’ and ‘Leila’ sugarbeet seeds, respectively. The bulk densities decreased from 125.92 to 120.02 kg/m3 and from 148.09 to 114.06kg/m3 and true densities decreased from 916.70 to 827.39kg/m3 and from 852.81 to 832.20kg/m3, for ‘Gina’ and ‘Leila’, respectively, whereas the angle of repose increased from 19.31° to 21.27° and from 21.05° to 21.32°, for ‘Gina’ and ‘Leila’ respectively. The static and dynamic coefficients of friction on various surfaces, namely, plywood, mild steel, and galvanised metal also increased linearly with increasing moisture content. The plywood surface offered the maximum friction followed by mild metal and galvanised metal.