Engineering Properties of Little Millet and Barnyard Millet based on Moisture Content

Abstract

At five moisture levels of 8.70, 11.51, 15.76, 18.37, and 20.82% (dry basis), the physical qualities of little millet and barnyard millet were examined. Progressive absorption of moisture led to a steady increase in grain size and associated characteristics. The length, width, and thickness rose from 1.70 to 2.03 mm, 1.07 to 1.90 mm, and 1.06 to 1.28 mm, respectively. Similarly, arithmetic mean diameter (0.65–1.68 mm), geometric mean diameter (1.24–1.71 mm), surface area (7.52–7.76 mm²), sphericity (77.57–79.49%), thousand grain mass (1.43–2.36 g) and angle of repose (27.00°–34.33°) rose along with moisture content. Similar trends were seen in barnyard millet, where grain length rose from 1.91 to 1.98 mm, thickness from 1.75 to 1.87 mm, and thickness from 1.09 to 1.46 mm. As moisture content rose, increases were also noted in geometric mean diameter (1.54–1.75 mm), arithmetic mean diameter (1.22–1.82 mm), surface area (12.53–15.42 mm²), sphericity (77.70–85.03%), thousand grain mass (2.06–4.80 g), and angle of repose (25.66°– 42.33%). By contrast, porosity, bulk density, and true density showed a diminishing trend with increasing moisture levels for both millet kinds, showing lower density from grain swelling.