Physical Properties of Pigeon Pea Grains (BDN 2) as a Function of Moisture Content

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) is one of the important pulse crops of India contributing 20.87% to the total production of all pulses. Pigeon pea grains contain about 20–22% protein and appreciable amounts of essential amino acids and minerals. Several grain characteristics play an important role in determining the dehulling quality. Different properties of pigeon pea grain (BDN 2), namely size, in terms of length, breath and thickness; sphericity; bulk density; porosity; true density; angle of repose and static coefficient of friction against different surfaces were determined at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% (d.b.) moisture content. The average of length, width and thickness of grains increased from 6.05 to 6.32 mm, 5.43 to 5.63 mm and 4.64 to 4.71 mm, respectively. The size and thousand grains mass increased from 5.337 to 5.510 mm and 97.90 to 116.83 g, respectively. The sphericity, bulk density and true density decreased from 0.883 to 0.871, 872 to 814 kg/m3 and 1353 to 1307 kg/m3, respectively. Porosity and angle of repose increased from 35.47 to 37.96%, and 28.17 to 34.08°, respectively. The values of static coefficient of friction against galvanized, plywood and glass surface were found to be 0.34 to 0.52, 0.41 to 0.62 and 0.336 to 0.456, respectively with the increase of moisture content from 10 to 30% (d.b.).