Physical properties of barnyard millet for the development of post-harvest equipment

Abstract

This study investigates the Physico-chemical properties of whole and dehusked barnyard millet (Echinochloa, E. frumentacea) to increase its utilisation at the commercial level. Barnyard millet is a small-seeded cereal from the Poaceae family, majorly cultivated in Asian countries. Despite being a nutria cereal crop its utilisation is limited to the local level because of its small and complex structure. Physical properties help in designing and developing post-harvest equipment that increases its commercial value by reducing the labour-intensive post-harvest process so, the physical properties of the Barnyard millet grain were calculated at 11% moisture content by using various methods. The geometric mean diameter, sphericity, thousand-grain volume, thousand-grain mass, Bulk density, true density (Toluene displacement method), porosity, angle of repose, coefficient of internal and external friction (At mild steel surface), and hardness were found as 1.84 mm, 0.76, 3.17ml, 3.65g, 0.76 g/ml, 1.20 kg/m3 3.81%, 21.2°, 19.7, 13.8, and 2.31 kgf, respectively. Additionally, this study also calculates the proximate analysis of the barnyard millet including moisture, fat, protein, fiber, ash, and carbohydrate to facilitate the commercial exploitation of barnyard millet's nutritional potential.