Modeling of engineering properties for predicting the mass of acid lime fruit (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)

Engineering properties and their relationships with mass for Phule Sharbati acid lime cultivar were investigated. Relationship between physical properties of fruits and its mass will create tremendous change in the packaging industry. The mean values of engineering properties such as minor diameter, intermediate diameter, major diameter, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, aspect ratio, mass, surface area, volume and true density were found to be 42.55 mm, 41.20 mm, 40.41 mm, 0.94, 0.94, 38.17g, 49997 mm2, 33322.8 mm3 and 1 g/cc, respectively. Regression models were used to predict the effect of mass of acid lime and classified into two: 1–Single and multiple variable regressions of acid lime mass and dimensional characteristics and 2- Single variable regression for geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area and volume. Results indicated that mass modeling of acid lime based on minor diameter was found most appropriate in the first classification. In the second classification, the power-law model was noticed best on the basis of the geometric mean diameter, surface area and the volume.