Effect of moisture content on physical properties of some grain legume seeds

This study was carried out to determine the effect of moisture content on physical properties of some grain legumes seeds such as kidney bean (Phaselous vulgaris), dry pea (Pisum sativum), and black-eyed pea (Vigna sinensis) seeds. Three different moisture contents for each grain legume were evaluated. The average length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, and unit mass of seeds ranged from 16.66, 8.86, 7.17, 10.17 mm, and 0.715 g for kidney bean; 7.46, 6.02, 4.49, 5.85 mm, and 0.158 g for pea; 9.19, 6.96, 6.26, 7.32 mm, and 0.255 g for black-eyed pea at a moisture content of 8.21%, 8.20%, and 5.66% (wet basis), respectively. The sphericity, thousand-seed mass (1000-seed mass), and projected area increased, whereas the bulk and kernel densities linearly decreased with an increase in moisture content for each grain legume seed. The porosity, the volume of seed, and angle of repose increased for three grain legumes seeds, whereas the angle of repose decreased for black-eyed pea seeds in the moisture contents studied. The static and dynamic coefficients of friction on various surfaces, namely, galvanised metal; chipboard, mild steel, plywood, and rubber also linearly increased with an increase in moisture content of each grain legume seed.