Source Year: 2006

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of moisture content on the different physical properties (sphericity, bulk density, true density and angle of response) and dehulling characteristics (hull content, dehulling efficiency and broken percent) of sunflower seeds. The moisture contents and feed rates of 6, 8 and 10;(wb) and 12, 18 and 24 kg/ha, respectively, were considered for the study. The average bulk density, true density and angle of response increased, while sphericity decreased with the increase in moisture content. Dehulling was performed with rubber roll sheller used for paddy shelling and a horixontal centrifugal dehuller. Dehulling efficiency decreased with the increase in feed rate for all levels of moisture content. The effect of moisture content on dehulling efficiency was more significant as compared to that of feed rate. Broken percent increased with the increase in feed rate irrespective of moisture content. The effect of feed rate at lower moisture content was more significant as compared to that of higher moisture content.