Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Subarna Ghosh, S Patel, RK Naik and D Khokhar

Abstract:
Little millet or kutki is a type of small millet which is highly nutritious and is found all over India especially in marginal and degraded lands. The variety BL-6 locally found in Chhattisgarh was evaluated for its moisture dependence on physical, thermal and functional properties. Physical properties of raw little millet grains varied significantly with increase in moisture content in the range studied (6.02-20.05% (db)). Length (2.10-2.72 mm), width (1.35-1.76 mm), thickness (1.01-1.60 mm), AMD (1.49-2.02 mm), GMD (1.41-1.96 mm), Ds (0.84-1.15 mm), De (1.24-1.71 mm), aspect ratio (64.54-65.14), sphericity (67.04-72.65), surface area (5.33-10.34 mm2), volume (1.05-2.89 mm3), thousand grain weight (1.92-2.88 g), angle of repose (27.19-38.29°) and coefficient of friction (in the surfaces viz., glass (0.47-0.58), plywood (0.41-0.59), rubber (0.59-1.22) and mild steel (0.54-0.69) increased significantly with increase in grain initial moisture content. However, the properties such as, bulk density (745.38-699.53 kg/m³), true density (1149.55-980.97 kg/m³) and porosity (49.23-28.34%) decreased with the increase in grain moisture. Also, the thermal conductivity (0.066-0.112 W/m.K) increased and thermal resistivity (1533.33-896.33 °C cm/W) decreased significantly in the moisture range of 6.02-20.05% (db). Functional properties, viz., hydration capacity (6.46×10-4-7.53×10-4 g/1000 grains) varied with grain moisture content, hydration index (33.81- 22.46%) decreased, swelling capacity (3.67×10-4 to 1.30 ×10-3 mL/1000 grains) and swelling index (17.10-35.45%) increased in the studied moisture range.