Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum) is an annual suitable for the dry and semi-dry areas of Iran. Recently, farmers have chosen to plant cumin because it requires less water and growth time. However, at harvest time, the resistance of cumin seed to shatter is low and, if careful attention is not paid to this fact, a major portion of the crop can be lost. When the connection force of the seed decreases, seed shatter falls. To investigate effective factors in shatter resistance, this study measured the force and energy required to pick cumin seeds. The effects of moisture content at three levels (5.9, 13.5 and 22%), picking rate at three levels (50, 200 and 500 mm/min), direction of picking at two levels (vertical and horizontal on axial seed) and type of plant at two levels (irrigation and no-irrigation planting) were studied on the force and energy requirements for picking cumin seed. The results showed that the mean force and energy requirement was 0.955 N and 0.747 mJ, respectively. It was shown that moisture is the most effective factor in relation to the force and energy requirements. As moisture content increased, the amount of picking force and energy increased significantly. An investigation of the double effects of moisture and picking direction showed that the greatest difference between direction levels was related to a moisture content of 5.9%. At this moisture, vertical picking of the axial seed required decreased force and energy of 26% and 20%, respectively. An investigation of the effects of moisture and picking rate showed that the least difference between picking rate levels was related to a moisture content of 5.9%. However, at moisture content 13.5%, velocity had the greatest effect on the energy requirement and the three picking rate levels all showed significant differences.
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