EFFECT OF VARIETY AND MOISTURE CONTENT ON AERODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF FOUR NIGERIAN COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata) VARIETIES

Abstract

Knowledge of aerodynamic properties of a crop is important in developing handling, cleaning and processing equipment for the crop. Terminal velocity, drag coefficient and Reynolds number of four Nigerian cowpea varieties namely Ife 98-12, IT90K-277-2, Ife Brown and Drum were studied at moisture levels of 8.2, 12.2, 14.2 and 18.2% wet basis (w.b.), which are levels useful in the design of processing and handling equipment. The terminal velocities of the four varieties ranged from 13.35 to 14.47 m/s, the drag coefficient ranged from 0.446 to 0.454 and Reynolds number ranged from 4768 to 6447. The results showed that both variety moisture content and have significant effect (P≤ 0.05) on both terminal velocity and Reynolds number.