SOME ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max) SEEDS AS RELATED TO PRIMARY PROCESSING

Fumen, G. A. and T. K. Kaankuka*

Department of Agricultural and Bio-environmental Engineering Technology, Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Kaduna State.

*Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.

Email:fumenaaron@gmail.com

Abstract: Knowledge of physical properties of agricultural materials plays important roles in the design of post-harvest handling machines and processes. This study evaluated some physical properties of soybean seeds relevant to the design and development of equipment and machines for postharvest handling, processing and storage operations. The selected physical properties were evaluated at the seed moisture content of 8.02%  1.02 moisture level (db). The results showed  mean values of geometric properties namely major diameter, intermediate diameter, minor diameter, geometric mean diameter, arithmetic mean diameter, surface area, sphericity and aspect ratio varied significantly (p>0.05). The ratio of bulk density to true density of the soybean seeds gave low porosity of 11.5% . The angle of repose was 28.5 , while the static coefficient of friction of the seeds was highest on plywood (0.44  and lowest 0.38  on the plastic surface. The result suggests that the highest static coefficient of friction on plywood surface could be attributed to the roughness of its surface, while the lowest coefficient of static friction on the plastic surface could be attributed to the smoothness of its surface.

Keywords: Soybean seeds; Moisture level; Engineering properties; Design and construction, Processing