Physical properties and compression loading behaviour of corn (Zea mays L.) Seed

Abstract

The aim of this study was to acquire data on the physical properties and mechanical behaviour of the six seed corn hybrid varieties. One variety was semi-flint, while others were dent types. The mean values of length, width, thickness, geometric diameter, surface area, porosity, single kernel mass, sphericity, bulk and true density, 1000 kernel weight and coefficient of friction were studied at a single level of moisture content. The longest kernels were those of the ZP 677 hybrid, which ranged from 10.51-11.50 mm in length. The largest width was observed for ZP 684 (7.51-8.50 mm) and ZP 677 (6.51-7.25 mm) kernels, while kernel thickness was greatest in ZP 434 (3.56-4.55 mm) and ZP 684 (3.31-5.55 mm) hybrids. The mean geometric diameters were 7.18; 7.15; 6.91 and 6.72 mm for NS 4015, ZP 644, NS 640 and ZP 677, respectively. The highest value of sphericity, 0.75, was measured for ZP 684, followed by 0.71 for NS 640; the hybrids NS 6010 and ZP 677 had the lowest value of sphericity (0.60). The measured bulk density values ranged from 784.75 kg/m3 (ZP 677) and 779.58 kg/m3 to 633.56 kg/m3 (NS 6010), while true densities ranged from 1176.63 kg/m3 (ZP 677) and 1175.65 kg/m3 (NS 640) to 900.94 kg/m3 (NS 6010). The linear model showed a decreasing tendency of secant modulus of elasticity for all ZP hybrids as the moisture content of seeds increased, with high values of the coefficient of regression. Similar results were attained for NS hybrids but with lower coefficient of regression values.

Keywords

• corn seed
• physical properties
• secant modulus of elasticity