scholarly journals Performance Evaluation of a Melon Shelling Machine with Different Power Sources

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Temidayo C. Esenamunjor ◽  
Ugwu H. Ubabuike

Performance evaluation of an electric motor and a fuel-engine powered machine used for shelling melon seeds was performed in this study to determine the effects of shelling speed and moisture content on machine productivity. The melon seeds used for the evaluation of the existing melon shelling machine were sourced locally from Umungasi market in Aba, Abia state, Nigeria. The unshelled melon seeds as used were weighed (25g each), sprinkled with water and partially dried with natural air for 25 minutes. This enabled the skin coat became slightly softened and the cotyledon easily detached from the shell, thus making the shelling more efficient. To evaluate the parameters (machine productivity, throughput capacity and percentage seed damage), the melon seeds were employed. For the shelling performance, melon seeds of five different moisture contents (7.48, 10.24, 13.92, 18.36, 21.44%) dry basis (d.b.) at different shelling speeds (850, 1000 and 1200 rpm) were utilized in the evaluation. From the evaluation, results revealed that the machine has an optimal productivity of over 83% and percentage seed damage of 14.2% at seed moisture content of 21.44% and drum speed of 1200 rpm for both power sources. Maximum machine throughput capacity of over 940 kg/h was recorded at 1200 rpm and 21.44% moisture content for both power sources. Overall, results obtained indicated that the machine can effectively shell melon seeds and that seed moisture contents and shelling speed affected the machine productivity.Keywords— Performance operation, evaluation, motorized, melon, shelling machine

Author(s):  
Adeleke M.B ◽  
Orelaja O.A

An improved designed and constructed melon seed sheller with continuous separator comprises of electric motors, hopper, shelling, and separator units for separating melon seed from its shell, was developed. This machine which was fabricated using locally sourced standard materials by eliminating the drudgery involved in the melon kernel separation. As we know that melon seed is a vital oil seed that is mostly used in food industries. Shelling of this crop is a problem due to the stress and time that is involved, prior to its usage. In order to address these challenges associated with shelling and separating the melon from its kernel, an improved design of melon shelling machine of melon seeds for both commercial and a small scale was presented and evaluated in this research work. Parameters evaluated include shelling efficiency, percentage seed shelled, and output volume with time and general machine capacity. The machine was constructed using locally available materials and consists of a hopper, frame, shelling and cleaning unit, chutes and prime mover. Shelling speeds of the machine and seed moisture content of melon affects the rate, efficiency and percentage seed damage. Adopting this design concept is recommended because it minimizes seed breakage during manual shelling, it also enhanced hygiene as human direct contact with the seed during shelling is reduced. KEY WORDS: Improved design, melon seed, melon kernel, performance evaluation, efficiency.


1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Gray ◽  
J. R. A. Steckel ◽  
L. J. Hands

AbstractThe effects of development of leek seeds at 20/10°, 25/15° and 30/20°C (day/night) and drying of seed harvested at different developmental stages on subsequent performance were examined in each of 3 years. An increase in temperature from 20/10° to 30/20°C reduced mean seed weight from 2.90 to 2.55 mg as a result of a reduction in the duration of seed growth from 80 to 55 days; seed growth rate was unaffected. Seed moisture content reached a minimum, up to 35 days after the attainment of maximum seed dry weight and 115, 90 and 70 days after anthesis at 20/10°, 25/15° and 30/20°C, respectively. The curves relating seed moisture to time for each temperature regime were mapped onto a single line accounting for >90% of the variation in moisture content, using accumulated day-degrees >6°C instead of chronological time. Seeds were capable of germinating when seed moisture contents were >60% (fresh weight basis), but maximum viability and minimum mean time to germination were not attained until seed moisture contents at harvest had fallen to 20–30%. Germination was little affected by temperature of seed development. Drying immature seeds increased percentage germination. Growing seeds at 30/20°C and drying at 35°C and 30% RH raised the upper temperature limit of germination compared with growing at 20/10°C and drying at 15°C and 30% RH.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 577c-577
Author(s):  
Noël Pallais

True potato seed of Atzimba × 104.12LB (intermediate dormancy) was dried to seed moisture contents ranging from 3.85 to 12.5% (dry wt basis) and was stored for 2 years at 30, 15 and 5°C. Seed was tested for various germination and seedling vigor criteria at 4 month intervals. Seed dormancy and viability were better preserved at seed moisture levels below 7% and as temperature decreased. High moisture (>9%) was lethal to seed stored at 30°C. TPS should be stored at <5% seed moisture content. Under this condition seed dormancy in the genotype studied was lost after about 12 months at 30°C.


HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 758D-759
Author(s):  
Seung-Hee Lee* ◽  
Jin-Seok Kim ◽  
Jung-Myung Lee

Dry heat treatment (DHT), a powerful and agrochemical-free means of inactivating seed-borne virus and other pathogens, has been extensively used for value-added vegetable seeds in Korea, Japan, and some other countries. Since seeds are treated with extremely high heat (75 °C or higher) for a long time (72 h or longer), heat-induced phytotoxicity symptoms are frequently observed. Even though various internal and external factors, such as seed maturity and vigor, maximum temperature and duration of DHT, are known to influence the severity of phytotoxicity, precise control of seed moisture contents during DHT is regarded as one of the most important factors for successful DHT. In an ideal condition using a specifically designed DTH machine, seed moisture content of bottle gourd, initially around 6.20% to 0.64% when stored in a storage room with 50% RH, decreased by 1% after 24 h at 35 °C (5.20% to 0.23%), and further decreased below 4% after 24 h pretreatment at 50 °C (3.64% to 0.37%). The seed moisture content was further reduced down to about 2% after 72 h DHT at 75 °C (2.16% to 0.28%). During the post-treatment conditioning at 50 °C and 70% RH for 24 h, the moisture contents were raised to about 6%(5.94% to 0.45%), thus approaching the initial moisture content of 6% to 7%. During the germination period, treated seeds showed slower absorption of water as compared to the intact seeds, thus suggesting that this slow absorption of initial moisture absorption may be responsible for the slow initial germination frequently observed in treated seeds. Final germination and seedling vigor were not affected by DHT.


1965 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Gladstones ◽  
CM Francis

Seeds of Lupinus angustifolius were given X-ray doses of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 kr at each of 12 moisture contents ranging from 6.1 to 18.1 % (wet weight basis). Various measures of injury were recorded in the X1 generation, and the types and rates of mutations in the X2. At moisture contents below 16%, total mutation rates were closely correlated with X1 injury. Injury and mutation rate decreased with increasing moisture up to 11–12% moisture, and thereafter remained at a constant minimum up to 16%. Between 16 and 18% moisture there was again an increase in X1 injury, but not in mutation rate. Between 6 and 12 % moisture, a linear relationship was found between moisture content and the logarithm of the dose required to cause a given level of injury or mutation. A possible mechanism for such a pattern of protection is discussed. Lethal mutations increased as a proportion of all mutations as dose and mutation rate increased. There were also proportionately more lethals at high moisture contents than in lower moisture treatments giving the same mutation rates. It is concluded that lethal and seedling chlorophyll-deficient mutations could be misleading when used as indicators of total and viable mutation rates, and that, contrary to the conclusions of some previous authors, no advantage is likely to be gained in practical breeding work from irradiating at high seed moisture contents.


1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
GB Taylor

An improved technique for the determination of seed moisture content in small-seeded annual legumes is described. Changes in weight of permeable and impermeable seed of Medicago truncatula, M. polymorpha and Trifolium subterraneurn, which were either left intact or cut in half, were measured in air-ovens at 105 and 130�C. Drying intact seeds for 1 h at 130�C, as specified by the International Seed Testing Association, seriously underestimated moisture content in most seed samples. Seeds dried to approximately constant weight at 130�C appeared to overestimate moisture contents by about 1%, presumably because of volatilisation losses of material other than unbound water. At 105�C, halved seeds lost weight rapidly during the first day then slightly gained weight for several days before resuming a gradual weight loss. Drying intact seeds of M. truncatula and T. subterraneurn at 105�C for 2 days gave seed moisture contents similar to those obtained from halved seeds. Intact impermeable seeds of M. polymorpha were very much slower than those of the other species to lose weight. taking 14 days to approach an apparent moisture content close to that of halved seeds. Drying halved seeds for 24 h at 105�C appears the most reliable technique.


1978 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 557-560
Author(s):  
R. M. DE PAUW

The after-ripening requirement of three fall rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivars, harvested at three seed moisture contents (50, 42, and 32%), was assessed by monitoring the changes in seedling emergence from sowings made over a period of 60 days. All cultivars exhibited a short after-ripening requirement of 1–7 days. The absolute duration of the after-ripening requirement was not affected by the range of seed moisture contents studied. Seed treatment with captan [N[(trichloromethyl) thiol]-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboximide] significantly increased percent seedling emergence. The captan treatment had the greatest effect on seeds harvested at the lowest moisture content.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1003-1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Carpenter ◽  
Eric R. Ostmark ◽  
John A. Cornell

Various combinations of temperature and moisture contents were used in evaluating the seed storage of nine genera of annual flowers. Relative humidity (RH) levels of 11%, 32%, 52%, and 75% provided wide ranges in seed moisture during storage at 5, 15, and 25C. At each temperature, total germination percentages (G) generally declined as seed moisture content increased during storage. The seed moisture range giving the highest G after 12 months of storage was determined for each temperature and plant genus. For all genera, seed moisture contents during storage increased as storage temperatures increased at constant RH levels. Moisture contents at 25C storage were 37%, 34%, 29%, and 20% higher than at 5C when RH levels were at 11%, 32%, 52%, and 75%, respectively.


1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Darwent ◽  
K. J. Kirkland ◽  
L. Townley-Smith ◽  
K. N. Harker ◽  
A. J. Cessna ◽  
...  

In experiments conducted from 1988 to 1990 at four locations in the Parkland zone of western Canada, the drydown of seed and foliage, seed yield, seed quality and baking quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following preharvest applications of glyphosate were compared with those following windrowing prior to harvest or direct cutting of the standing crop. Glyphosate was applied in late July to early September at rates of 0.45, 0.9 and 1.7 kg acid equivalent ha−1 to wheat with seed moisture contents ranging from 80 to 11%. When compared with a standing crop, all glyphosate treatments applied at seed moisture contents above 25% slightly enhanced the drydown of wheat seed and foliage. Treatments applied at seed moisture contents below 25% had no effect on either seed or foliage drydown. Seed yields were generally greater from plots to which glyphosate was applied than from windrowed control plots, although in one of five experiments the reverse trend occurred. Increasing the rate from 0.45 to 1.7 kg ha−1 had no effect on yield. Windrowing or applying glyphosate to wheat with a seed moisture content of 61% or more reduced yields more than windrowing or applying glyphosate at seed moisture contents below this level. In experiments where the wheat in both control and sprayed plots was direct cut at maturity, average yields decreased as the rate of glyphosate increased from 0 to 1.7 kg ha−1. However, applications at seed moisture of 40% or less, caused little or no yield loss. There was little or no difference in 1000-seed weight, sample density, seed germination and protein content from plots sprayed with glyphosate at seed moisture contents below 40% than from control plots windrowed at the same moisture content or direct cut at maturity. Baking quality was not affected by any of the glyphosate treatments in experiments where the wheat was harvested by direct cutting. Key words: Glyphosate, wheat, desiccation, wheat quality, Triticum aestivum


2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suelen Santos Rego ◽  
Antonio Carlos Nogueira ◽  
Antonio Carlos de Souza Medeiros ◽  
Carmen Lúcia de Oliveira Petkowicz ◽  
Álvaro Figueredo dos Santos

The present work aimed to develop studies on the tolerance to dehydration of Blepharocalyx salicifolius and Casearia decandra seeds. In order to verify the effect of drying on the seeds, they were placed in desiccators containing a saline solution saturated with potassium acetate (23.5% RH) at temperature of 15 °C. After obtaining the desired moisture contents, the seeds were submitted to the germination, vigor, tetrazolium and electrical conductivity tests. It can be concluded that under slow drying conditions, the seeds of B. salicifolius and C. decandra were sensitive to moisture reduction of 29% to 25%, and lost viability at around 14% and 8% of moisture content, respectively. The physiological changes occurring during seed drying showed there was a decrease in viability and vigor and an increase in electrical conductivity values starting at 25% seed moisture content.


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