Engineering Properties of Ginger Rhizomes in Relation to Design of a Seed Planting Mechanism

Ginger is a vital spice and medicinal plant, cultivated extensively in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The engineering properties of ginger rhizomes are of paramount importance in the design of seed planting mechanisms. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the engineering properties of ginger rhizomes relevant to the design and development of a seed planting mechanism. The ginger rhizomes were classified into three grades based on their size, namely, small (< 35 mm), medium (35-50 mm), and large (> 50 mm). The average length, width, and thickness of the seed rhizomes were observed to be in the range of 31.08-64.22, 23.51-39.94, and 15.91-20.64 mm, respectively. The projected areas for small, medium, and large rhizomes were estimated to be 1609.26, 2651.25, and 4433.92 mm², respectively. The sphericity of the small, medium, and large rhizomes was observed to be 0.73, 0.65, and 0.59, respectively. The angle of repose for rhizome seeds corresponding to small, medium, and large rhizomes was 30.72°, 33.55°, and 38.93°, respectively. The lowest coefficient of friction of 0.31 and 0.39 was observed for stainless steel and mild steel sheets, respectively, while the highest was observed for galvanized iron sheet. The mechanical strength parameters, including penetration, compression, and cutting forces, ranged from 12.70-15.06 N, 110.06 -154.25 N, and 218.50-252.68 N, respectively. The mean value of seed size (44.23 mm), coefficient of friction (0.39), higher angle of repose (42°) and lower cutting force (110.06 N) were considered for the design of a seed planting mechanism. The mild steel sheet was selected for its low coefficient of friction and cost-effectiveness, ensuring smooth seed flow. This study highlights that the size of ginger rhizomes significantly influences their engineering properties, which is crucial for the design of a precise seed planting mechanism.