Dimensional and Density Data for Seeds of Cereal Grain and Other Crops

Dimensions of seeds of more than twenty different kinds and types of grain and other crops were determined bycaliper measurements. Individual kernel and seed weights were obtained, and mean volumes were determined byaircomparison pycnometer measurements for use in determining kernel and seed densities. Seed densities ranged from 1.002for safflower to 1.460 for milled rice. Test weight (bulk density) measurements were also taken and moisture contents weredetermined by standard tests. Collectively, these data supplement the limited kernel and seed data currently available in theliterature for reference. The product of three orthogonal dimensions (length, width, and thickness) was calculated for eachkind of seed. A volume coefficient was determined as the ratio of the measured mean volume to the orthogonaldimensionproduct. The volume coefficients, which ranged from 0.222 for oiltype sunflower seeds to 0.588 for sweetclover seeds, areuseful in estimating seed volume from seed dimensional data. With use of the volume coefficient, seed density can be estimatedfor a particular kind of seed from seed weight and dimensions.