Some Physical Properties of Iranian Varieties of Canola Seeds

In this study, Geometrical, Gravimetrical and Frictional properties of four common varieties of Iranian canola seeds (namely: SLM, Hyola, Okapi, Orient), containing the mean moisture value of 6.5% (w.b.) were investigated. Geometrical and Gravimetrical properties included length, diameter, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, thousand seed mass, volume, true density, bulk density and porosity. The results indicated that the length ranged from 1.925 to 2.153 mm and diameter from 1.54 to 1.93 mm. Maximum geometric mean diameter was 2 mm in Hyola and minimum was 1.669 in SLM and maximum sphericity was 0.93 in Hyola and minimum 0.85 in SLM. Thousand seed mass ranged from 3.06 to 4.07 g, volume from 2.34 to 3.25 mm3 in Orient and Hyola varieties, true density from 1156 to 1302 kg/m3 in Okapi and Orient, bulk density from 710.92 to 738.79 kg/m3 in Hyola and SLM and porosity ranged from 37-44.02% in Okapi and Hyola. Also, in this research, Frictional properties of canola seeds including filling and emptying angle of repose, static coefficient of friction on five surfaces (galvanized iron, glass, fiberglass, rubber and plywood) were measured. Filling and emptying angle of repose ranged from 27.88o to 28.54o and 25.48o to 27.60o, respectively. In all four varieties, the highest static coefficient of friction was obtained for rubber and the least for glass.