Vol. 1, Issue 7, Part N (2015)

Abstract
The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), also called Bengal gram is an important pulse crop of the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly grown for its nutritious seeds. The present work was done to study some physical properties of various types of chickpeas (Kabuli, dark red gram and light red gram) procured from the local market of Dapoli. The average moisture content was found to be 8.18, 6.91 and 7.31% (wet basis). Geometric properties viz., length, breadth, thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, roundness and aspect ratio were determined and found to be in the range of 7.02-13.51 mm, 5.08-9.65 mm, 4.77-8.99 mm, 5.54-10.24 mm, 69.49-94.67%, 0.71-0.94 and 0.59-0.93 for Kabuli, dark red gram and light red gram, respectively. The 1000 seed weights were found to be in the range of 519.06, 167.09, and 162.30 g, respectively. The gravimetric and frictional properties such as bulk density, true density, porosity and angle of repose were 815.79-845.26 kg/m³, 1481.48-1666.67 kg/m³, 43.16-51.05 % and 23.09-26.38°, for Kabuli, dark red gram and light red gram, respectively. The result of this study will help in the design and construction of the processing, sorting, grading and handling equipment.