Assessment of engineering and proximate composition of finger millet genotypes

Abstract

Ten finger millet genotypes (Eleusine coracana), namely GPU28, GPU45, GPU48, GPU66, GPU67, KMR204, KMR301, KMR340, KMR630, and VL376, were used in this study. Investigations showed that finger millet had kernel sizes ranging from 1.37 to 1.54 mm, bulk density of 751.6 to 834.3 kg/m³, true density of 1224.6 to 1364.6 kg/m³, and 1000 kernel weight between 2.23 to 3.01 g. Tristimulus color values, angle of repose (27.6-30.2°), terminal velocity (2.4-3.9 m/s), and frictional properties on various surfaces were also measured. Proximate composition analysis revealed moisture content (71.10-74.48%), carbohydrates (10.97-12.90%), crude protein (6.3-8.5%), fat (1.25-1.5%), ash (2-3.1%), and crude fiber (3.00-4.90%) across the genotypes. These findings provide valuable insights into the design of agricultural machinery and the development of millet-based food products, contributing to advancements in agricultural and food engineering.