Physical properties of guna seeds

The study was undertaken to determine the physical properties of guna seeds as a function of moisture content. The seeds tend to be flat and oval in s hape. At the moisture content of 4.7% d.b., measurements yielded an average 1000 seed weight of 0.041 kg, major axis of 8.80 mm, intermediate axis of 5.27 mm, and minor axis of 2.04 mm, while the average surface area was 104 mm(2). In the moisture range from 4.7 to 39.3% d.b., true and bulk densitie s decreased from 870 to 680 kg/m(3) and from 544 to 400 kg/m(3), respective ly; porosity increased from 0.38 to 0.41; coefficient of static friction fr om 0.41 to 0.98 over the surface of different materials, and angle of repos e from 28.07 to 43.58 degrees. Seed size, volume and 1000 seed weight also increased with the increase in moisture content. (C) 1999 Silsoe Research I nstitute.