Physical properties of an underutilized crop: Browntop millet (Urochloa ramose)

Abstract

Browntop millet (Urochloa ramose L.) known as 'korale' in Karnataka is an annual warm-season grass often used as a forage crop gaining importance because of its nutritional qualities. Very fewer researches have been done so far on the millet. The research was conducted to determine the physical properties of the browntop millet. The physical properties were determined at moisture content 11.2 ± 0.16 (w.b). The mean values of length, width and thickness of the browntop millet were found to be 3.00 ± 0.21, 1.79 ± 0.10 and 1.15 ± 0.09 mm, respectively. The geometric mean diameter and arithmetic mean diameter were 1.82 ± 0.09 and 1.99 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. The mean weight of 1000 browntop millet seeds was 3.42 ± 0.14 g. The bulk density and true density were 601.17 ± 4.08 and 1305.47±95.5 kg/m 3 , respectively. The mean porosity, aspect ratio and sphericity were found to be 53.74 ± 3.23, 58.58 ± 3.84 and 59.82 ± 2.60%, respectively. The shape of the browntop millet was oval. The angle of repose was 27°47' ± 0.21 and the coefficient of friction for the three surfaces namely, Glass, Aluminum and Wooden Sheets were 0.62 ± 0.0009, 0.59 ± 0.0051 and 0.6 ± 0.0063, respectively. The terminal velocity was 7.2 m/sec. The tristimulous colour values (L*, a* and b*) were found to be 60.45 ± 0.44, 3.78 ± 0.06 and 14.71 ± 0.33, respectively. Hence this study helps agricultural and food engineers, designers, scientists and processors towards design of equipment and efficient process for browntop millet grain processing.

Potential and unrealized future possibilities of browntop millet in the food sector

“…According to Saini and Sasmal (2022) the mass of 1,000 BTM grains was 3.66 ± 0.00 g. One thousand grains were counted, and afterwards, the weight of grains were recorded in grams to the closest one decimal point. Other studies conducted by Nagaraju et al (2020) and Titkare et al (2021) found the mean weight of 1,000 BTM seeds to be 3.42 ± 0.14 g and 2.49 g, respectively.…”

“…Bulk density of BTM was found to be 0.67 ± 0.00 g/ml by Sravani et al (2020). Nagaraju et al (2020) and Titkare et al (2021) have reported the bulk density of BTM grains to be 601.17 ± 4.08 kg/m3 and 545 kg/m3, respectively.…”

“…According to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) (2011), the moisture content of grains/millets should not be more than 16.0 per cent by weight. According to a study carried out by Nagaraju et al (2020) the moisture content of the BTM was found to be 11.2 ± 0.16% on wet basis. Hemamilini et al (2021) found 7.32% moisture present in BTM and 3.08-5.99% of moisture content was recorded in a study by Saini and Sasmal (2022).…”

Effect of extrusion on physical and functional properties of millet based extrudates: A review

“…Millets are small-grained grasses that include proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), japanese barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) (Ahmed S.M. et al, 2013; Michaelraj and Shanmugam, 2013) [2,35] browntop millet (Urochloa ramosa) (Nagaraju et al, 2020) [34] which are cultivated around the world. In the world small millets are popularly grown with an area of 31.24 million hectare with an annual production of 28.46 million tons.…”

“…In the world small millets are popularly grown with an area of 31.24 million hectare with an annual production of 28.46 million tons. India's contribution is much in millet production among other countries; the year 2017 witnessed a record millet production of 11.56 million tons with an area of 9.1 million hectare (Nagaraju et al, 2020) [34] . In recent years, millets are gaining importance in the worldwide because of their abundant nutritional values in terms of dietary fiber and low glycemic index (GI) value (Singh KP et al, 2012) [48] .…”