Physical and mechanical properties of processed pea, bean, spinach and radish seeds

The physical and mechanical properties of pea, bean, spinach and radish seeds, both processed and packaged for sale, were examined under laboratory conditions. The experiment was conducted in order to determine the initial parameters necessary for adjusting the harvester mode so as to reduce the seed damage and losses. Therefore, the results obtained are of immense importance to the selection of appropriate feeds, i.e. the metering mechanism, and setting the operating mode. The following basic physical properties of seeds were measured: dimensions, shape, moisture content, mass of 1000 seeds, the bulk density and the angle of static friction. Mechanical properties were determined by measuring the slope of the load depending on the strain. The slope of the curve load/deflection was determined in three intervals. The first slope of the curve was measured in the area of elastic deformation, the second slope in the area of elastic/plastic deformation, and the third for the rupture point. On the basis of the mean value of the cross-section, the destruction stress and the secant modulus of elasticity were calculated at the point of destruction.