Studies on crop parameters of turmeric rhizome towards the development of root crop harvester

Abstract

The biometric and engineering properties which are relevant to the study were measured for turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa Linn.). The biometric properties viz., number of leaves, height of pant, depth of rhizome, plant density, spacing, soil rhizome composite, rhizome weight, rhizome fingers per hill and weight of rhizome with plant and engineering properties which include both physical and frictional properties of turmeric viz., size (length, width and thickness), shape, geometric mean, sphericity, rhizome index, surface area, bulk volume. bulk density, the angle of repose, coefficient of friction, angle of repose and texture (firmness). The mean values observed for biometric properties such as number of leaves, height of pant, depth of rhizome, plant density, spacing, soil rhizome composite, rhizome weight, rhizome fingers per hill and weight of rhizome with plant were 9.20, 39.50 cm, 18.15 cm, 10.60, 23.90 cm, 18.60 cm, 0.61 kg, 8.20 and 1.39 kg, respectively. The mean values for obtained for engineering properties of size (length, width and thickness), geometric mean, sphericity, rhizome index, surface area, bulk volume, bulk density, the angle of repose, coefficient of friction, angle of repose and texture (firmness) were (13.83, 10.12, 3.56 cm), 7.83 cm, 0.57, 39.95, 195.20 cm2, 194.20 m3, 481.63 kg m-3, 31.69 deg, 0.57 (stainless steel), 0.75 (plywood), 0.60 (GI) and 67.83 N, respectively. These properties were which plays an important role in the selection of the proper design components of the root crop harvester and are essential in the design and development of the digging unit and soil separator unit of the root crop harvester.