Gravity Table Sorting of Commodity Corn
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Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
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1905–present
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- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
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Abstract
Gravity tables are used in the seed industry to sort seed corn and other seeds for upgrading seed quality. Tests were conducted to determine if commodity corn could be sorted for quality by gravity table. Three commodity corn lots were sorted using an Oliver model 50 gravity table. Samples were drawn at three times from the feed and from four discharge fractions: heavy, heavy/medium, medium, and light. All samples were tested for test weight, breakage susceptibility, moisture, Chowdhury damage, starch, protein, oil, and density. Three measurements of physical properties (test weight, breakage susceptibility, and Chowdhury damage) showed many significant differences among fractions at a = 0.05. Quality of the heavy fractions was highest, and decreased through the lighter fractions with the light fractions having the poorest quality. There were few differences among sampling times. Chemical properties (protein, oil, starch) and moisture showed little difference among fractions at a = 0.05. Removal of the light fraction from commodity corn lots can result in lower BCFM levels in this corn at final destinations, overseas or domestic.
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This article is from Applied Engineering in Agriculture 2 (2007): 319–325, doi:10.13031/2013.22674. Posted with permission.