PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF CUMIN SEED

The physical properties of cumin seed were evaluated as a function of moisture content. The average length, breadth and thickness were 5.61, 1.77 and 1.55 mm respectively. In the moisture range from 7 to 22% d. b., studies on dried or rewetted cumin seed showed that bulk density i nitially increased from 477 to 502 kg/m(3) then decreased from 502 to 410 kg/m(3), true density increased from 1047 to 1134 kg/m(3), and por osity increased from 54 to 64%. The 1000 seed weight and terminal velo city increased linearly from 4.13 to 4.80 g and 2.6 to 4.8 m/s respect ively. The angle of repose increased linearly from 36.5 to 51.3 degree s and the static coefficient of friction also increased linearly on fo ur metal surfaces, namely, mild steel (0.54 to 0.70), galvanized iron (0.48 to 0.65), stainless steel (0.37 to 0.62) and aluminium (0.43 to 0.63) with the increase in moisture content from 7 to 22% d.b. (C) 199 6 Silsoe Research Institute