Measurement of Engineering Properties Necessary to the Design of Drumstick (Moringa oleifera L.) Pod Sheller

Abstract

Purpose: Designing equipment for processing, sorting, and other post-harvest operations of agricultural products requires information about their physical properties. This study was conducted to investigate some of the mechanical and physical properties of Moringa oleifera L. pods and seeds. Methods: Properties such as the length, width, thickness, bulk density, porosity, mass, static coefficient of friction, and angle of repose were determined as a function of moisture content. Statistical data and force-deformation curves obtained at each loading orientation and moisture level were analyzed for bioyield point, bioyield strength, yield force, rupture point, and rupture strength using a testrometric machine. Result: The basic dimensions (length, width, and thickness) of moringa pods and seeds were found to increase linearly from 311.15 to 371.45 mm, 22.79 to 31.22 mm, and 22.24 to 29.88 mm, respectively, in the moisture range of 12 to 49.5% d.b. The coefficient of friction for both pods and seeds increased linearly with an increase in moisture content on all the surfaces used. The highest value was recorded on mild steel, with 0.581 for pods and 0.3533 for seeds, and the lowest on glass for pods, with a value of 0.501, and of 0.2933 for seeds on galvanized steel. The bioyield and rupture forces, bioyield and rupture energies, and deformation of the pods decreased with an increase in moisture content to a minimum value, then increased with further decrease within the moisture content range, while the yield force increased to a maximum value and then decreased as the moisture content increased. Conclusion: These results will help to determine the most suitable conditions for processing, transporting, and storing moringa pods, and to provide relevant data useful in designing handling and processing equipment for the crop.

Efecto de peso y talla de semilla sobre plántulas de Moringa y Ricinus

“…Para Moringa, tanto las tallas como los pesos fueron más dispersos, con predominio de semillas ligeras (asimetría positiva, como se muestra en la Figura 1). La variación de los pesos se encontró entre los límites superiores a los reportados para semillas de África y Asia, con valores entre 20 y 22% (Ogunsina, 2006;Ayerza, 2011), excepto por la distribución, que en otras procedencias fue simétrica o tuvo una ligera asimetría negativa ( Foild et al, 2001;Ogunsina, 2006;Ayerza, 2011;Oloyede et al, 2015).…”

“…El origen del genotipo no fue proporcionado. Las plantas madre tenían alturas promedio entre cuatro y cinco metros, sus vainas una longitud entre 20 y 30 cm y semillas de tamaño y peso medios, en relación con lo reportado para esta especie ( Foild et al, 2001;Ayerza, 2011;Oloyede et al, 2015).…”

Respuesta al bocashi y a la lombricomposta de Moringa oleifera Lam. después de la poda

“…Datos que coinciden con las semillas de moringa antes de ser sembradas, mismos que fueron de 12.9 ±1.1 mm de largo y 11.4 ±0.8 mm de ancho y 268.9 ±42.9 mg de peso (Valdés et al, 2014). En otro trabajo se observaron medidas similares (11.34 a 15.16 mm y 9.77 a 12.19 mm) a lo encontrado en este estudio (Oloyede et al, 2015), por lo que la aplicación de los abonos orgánicos no pareció afectar las dimensiones de las semillas.…”

Mechanical Behaviour of Unshelled Moringa oleifera Seeds at Varying Moisture Contents

“…The powdered seed is used as an animal feed supplement, as a crop fertilizer and as an effective water purifier and the extracts can produce powerful pesticides that keep other plants healthy. In many communities, where the only drinking water available may come from a polluted lake, the standard of water purification is important (Oloyede et al, 2015). It has been observed that Nigerian Moringa farmers both in the North, South, East and Western regions make do with manual means of processing its seed (Figure 1).…”

“…Such use would assist these countries, especially African countries, which are currently facing adverse economic problems. The properties such as size, shape, volume, bulk density, true (particle) density, porosity, angle of internal friction, rupture, arithmetic and geometric diameters, surface areas, sphericity, moisture content, one thousand and unit seed weights, repose angle, deformation energy static coefficient of friction, angle of repose, bio-yield point, bio-yield strength, yield force, rupture point and rupture strength of the seed were obtained by Adejumo and Abayomi (2012); Aviara et al (2013); Ndukwe et al (2014); Oloyede et al (2015); Olayanju et al (2018); Abubakar and Benjamin (2019). These and more data from studies will aid the design and development of machines for processing the seed which will in turn boost massive scale production of the plants by farmers and thereby create jobs and revenue.…”