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Nwachukwu, I. D.
Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. PMB 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
Simonyan, K. J.
Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. PMB 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Accurate knowledge of engineering properties of agricultural products
plays a vital role in designing handling and post-harvest machines. In this
study, some engineering properties of recently released cassava varieties tuber
(UMUCAS 36, UMUCAS 37, UMUCAS 38, NR 8082 and NR/09/0581) related to its peeling
mechanization were determined. They were obtained from National Root Crop
Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike. They were all harvested at one year after
planting, cleaned and sorted by removing the broken and damaged ones. Thirty (30) experimental samples were
selected at random. Results showed that UMUCAS 37 had the highest mean moisture
content (84%), while NR 8082 had the lowest mean moisture content (63%) at the
time of harvest. The mean major diameter, intermediate diameter and minor
diameter for the five varieties studied ranged between 60.40 ±9.62 mm and 64.43
±14.22 mm, 50.43 ±9.43 mm and 60.90 ±11.72 mm, and 28.67 ±6.58 mm and 40.27
±11.76 mm, respectively. The highest peel thickness of 4.24 mm was obtained for
NR 09/0581 while NR 8082 had the lowest peel thickness of 1.61mm. NR 8082 had
the lowest mean sphericity of 0. 73. The angle of repose of the unpeeled
cassava tubers on the three test
surfaces (mild steel, wood and glass) was higher than the peeled cassava tubers
for all varieties studied. Coefficient of static friction on metal surface,
wood and glass for the unpeeled cassava tubers ranged between 4.3 ±3.03 and
4.15 ±3.68, 11.4 ±18.05 and 20.94 ±14.36, and 2.5 ±2.14 and 3.27 ±1.42,
respectively while the corresponding values obtained for the peeled cassava
tubers were 3.25 ±0.5 and 1.62 ±0.37, 8.5 ±5.08 and 4.75 ±2.45 and 2.09 ±0.27
and 2.13 ±0.5 respectively.
Keywords: Cassava, frictional properties, physical properties, peeling, mechanization.
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Published
Monday, June 22, 2015
Issue
Vol. 1 No. 1, June 2015
Article Section
GENERAL
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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