Physical and Engineering Properties of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Grown in Malappuram District of Kerala, India
Pachanagne Alankar Ashok *
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelapaaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur - 679 573, Kerala, India.
K. P. Shivaji
Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Ambalavayal, Wayanad, Dt – 673 593, Kerala, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Coconut (Cocous nucifera), also known as the "tree of heaven," is one of the most important marketable crops in tropical countries. Research and commercialization of the technology is needed as to provide an additional source of income and to improve the economic status of the farmers and the country. Some physical and engineering features such as size, weight, sphericity, roundness, volume, and density were researched as part of the steps toward developing processing and handling equipment for coconuts. Major diameter varied from 132.23 mm to 101.45 mm with a mean value of 117.24 mm, the seed volume varied from 713.45 cm3 to 425.88 cm3, with an average density of 1.0427 g cm-3. The roundness ranges from 0.4607 to 0.8216 with a mean value of 0.6490 and the sphericity ranges from 0.7304 to 0.9561 with a mean value of 0.8330.
Keywords: Coconut, physical and engineering properties.