Some physical properties of lentil seeds affected by harvest time.

The physical properties and the hardness of lentil seeds, which can also be affected by harvest times, are very important variables in the designing and adjustment of machineries used during harvest, handling and other processes. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of different harvest times on some physical and mechanical properties of lentil seeds. A field experiment was conducted at six harvest times including the harvesting at physiological maturity (H1) and 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days after physiological maturity (H2, H3, H4, H5 and H6, respectively). The variables determined were moisture content, diameter, thickness, sphericity, seed mass, bulk density, true density, porosity and hardness of lentil seeds. It was found that seed moisture content, seed dimensions, seed mass and bulk density decreased with delayed harvest time. However, sphericity, true density, porosity and hardness of lentil seeds increased with increased harvest time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]