Effect of moisture content on some physical properties of Iranian cumin seed(Cuminum Cymminum L.)

This study was carried out to determine the effect of moisture content on several physical properties of Iranian cumin seeds. Five levels of moisture content from 7.2 to 35.3% (w.b.%) was used. The length, width, thickness and unit mass increased from 4.73 to 5.30, 1.44 to 1.65, 1.19 to 1.23 (mm) respectively as the moisture content increased. The Calculeted value of geometric mean diameter and sphericity of the cumin seed increased, while bulk density decreased from 430 to 377 kg/m3 and also true density from 1026 to 1376 kg/m3. Porosity and terminal velocity increased respectively from 63.3 to 69.8% and 3.7 to 6.24 m/s. The static coefficient of friction also increased linearly on six different surface. The angle of repose increased linearly with increasing of moisture content respectively 42.4 to 57.7º. Physical properties data of Iranian cumin seed were determined in order to design processing equipment for post harvest operations

کلیدواژه ها:

Physical properties ، Iranian cumin seeds (zireh sabz) ، Moisture content