MOISTURE-DEPENDENT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF TWO VARIETIES OF AFRICAN PEAR (DACRYODES EDULIS) SEEDS

Abstract

This study examined the physical characteristics of African pear (Dacryodes edulis) seeds that are essential for designing appropriate handling equipment. The analyzed properties include gravimetric, frictional, and geometric attributes within a moisture content range of 10.45–48.90% (wet basis). An increase in moisture content led to a rise in average length, width, thickness, arithmetic and geometric mean diameters, surface area, volume, and angle of repose for both seed varieties. Additionally, bulk density increased from 749.45 to 1306.99 kg/m³ for the cultivated variety and from 550 to 710 kg/m³ for the wild variety. True density varied between 637.57 and 922.47 kg/m³ for the cultivated type and between 749.45 and 1306.99 kg/m³ for the wild type. Porosity ranged from 0.35 to 0.57 for the cultivated variety and 0.45 to 0.69 for the wild variety. The coefficient of static friction also increased on all tested surfaces (plywood, stainless steel, and glass) with rising moisture content, where plywood exhibited the highest values, while glass had the lowest for both varieties. Furthermore, predictive regression models were developed to establish relationships between moisture content and the examined physical properties of the seeds.