The effect of mechanized shelling and packaging on the quality of melon seeds

Abstract

A comparative study was carried out between mechanized shelling and manual shelling of Egusi-melon seeds and the effect of different packaging materials on some quality attributes of shelled Egusi-melon seeds(Bara and Serewe). Egusi-melon seeds were manually shelled and mechanically shelled using the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) mechanical melon Sheller (2018 and 2020 models) and a Rice huller (SB-10D Rice mill). Shelled Egusi-melon seeds were packaged and stored in kraft paper, glass bottles, laminated pouches, and a low-density polypropylene bag for 10 weeks. The Shelling efficiency of different machines compared to manual shelling (control) was evaluated. Manual shelling (control) was the most efficient in terms of output quality. The 2020 NCAM mechanical melon Sheller was the most efficient of the mechanized processes, while the rice huller was the least efficient. The shelled seeds were evaluated for shelling, free fatty acid, and microbial analysis. Results showed that Bara was more efficiently shelled by machines while Serewe was more efficiently shelled manually. Kraft paper seems to reduce seed spoilage over the storage period compared to the other packaging materials, the seeds shelled using the 2020 NCAM mechanical melon Sheller consistently recorded a significantly lower percentage increase in free fatty acid and fungal load. This research has provided valuable insight that selecting a suitable variety, shelling machine, and packaging material is crucial for the overall efficiency and high-quality output of large-scale production of shelled Egusi-melon.