ASIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
VOL. 24 (4) : 2022
CONTENTS
627–632 PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF CRAMBE SEEDS SUBMITTED TO DESICCATION WITH
GLYPHOSATE AND STORED IN PAPER BAGS
—GEVALDO BARBOSA DE OLIVEIRA, AMANDA MARIA LEAL PIMENTA, FLAVIA SOARES AGUIAR, ANDREIA MÁRCIA
SANTOS DE SOUZA DAVID, NELSON DE ABREU DELVAUX JÚNIOR, FLAVIO PINTO MONÇÃO, SAMY PIMENTA, MARIA
JOSIANE MARTINS, LUCAS JESUS LEAL PIMENTA, ADALBERTO MENDES LOPES, BRUNO RAFAEL ALVES RODRIGUES,
CARLOS AUGUSTO MATRANGOLO,KÊNNIA KAROLLINE GONÇALVES PEREIRA, CLEISSON DENER DA SILVA, ALAN
RAMOS DOS SANTOS, JOSIANE CANTUÁRIA FIGUEIREDO, ELIENE ALMEIDA PARAIZO, FLÁVIO CANTUÁRIA RIBEIRO
AND I CARO MOREIRA PERALTA

633–641 AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF FORAGE CORN CULTIVARS IN HIGH AND LOW

PHOSPHORUS
—WEDER FERREIRA DOS SANTOS, MICHELE RIBEIRO RAMOS, LAYANNI FERREIRA SODRÉ SANTOS, DEBORA RODRIGUES
COELHO, JOENES MUCCI PELUZIO, LEONARDO ALVES LOPES, CÍCERO ANTÔNIO SOBREIRA FIDÉLIS, MARIA DILMA
DE LIMA, ANTÔNIO HENRIQUE C AMILO R IBEIRO, JOSÉ PAULO O LIVEIRA DE CASTRO, A DRIANO SILVEIRA BARBOSA
AND FERNANDO B ARNABÉ CERQUEIRA

642–645 QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF TOMATO GENOTYPES UNDER PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT

—MAMTA, N.S. DHILLON AND G. SINGH
646–649 EFFECT OF FYM AND ZINC ON GROWTH, YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND PRODUCTIVITY
PARAMETERS OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)
—ADITYA KUMAR, SUSHIL DIMREE, RAVINDRA SACHAN, CHANDRA SHEKHAR, KRITAGYA GANGWAR AND MANDEEP
KUMAR
650–664 POST HARVEST EQUIPMENTS IN TUBER CROPS- REVIEW
—HEMASANKARI PALANI, S.K. NANDA, M.S. SAJEEV, J.T. SHERIFFUDIN AND G. PADMAJA
665–668 HYBRID PURITY ANALYSIS OF RICE USING MICRO SATELLITE MARKERS
—D. SHASHIBHUSHAN, T. PRADEEP AND RAVI KIRAN REDDY K.
669–672 GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY AS AFFECTED BY NANOCHITOSAN AND BIOCAPSULES IN
KINNOW MANDARIN (CITRUS RETICULATA)
—RAJVEER GURJAR, SAKET MISHRA, VIJAY BAHADUR AND SAMEER DANIEL
673–676 GENETIC DIVERGENCE AND CLUSTER ANALYSIS FOR YIELD ATTRIBUTING TRAITS IN ELITE
LINES OF CHILLI
—SHWETA TIWARI, KANCHAN BHAN, YOGENDRA SINGH, SHIV RAMAKRISHNA AND NIDHI PATHAK
677–680 IMPACT OF FOLIAR SPRAY OF BIOREGULATORS IN TERMINAL HEAT STRESS CONDITION ON
TEST WEIGHT, OIL CONTENT AND SEED VIABILITY OF MUSTARD (BRASSICA JUNCEA L.)
—ABHISHEK PATI TIWARI AND C.B. SINGH GANGWAR
681–683 EVALUATION OF NATIVE BIOCONTROL AGENTS FROM RICE FIELDS OF ASSAM
—PRANAMIKA SHARMA AND L.C. BORA
684–689 STUDIES ON PREPARATION AND SHELF LIFE OF GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) CANDY CV.
ALLAHABAD SAFEDA
—UJJWAL SINGH, SAKET MISHRA, GAURAV SINGH VISHEN AND RAJA KUMAR
690–692 A STUDY ON ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES INFLUENCING DRUG ADDICTION
—PRIYANSHU SINGH, GAYTRI TIWARI AND KAVITHA KIRAN
693–702 EFFECT OF SELECTED MINIMAL PROCESSING TECHNIQUES IN CASSAVA TUBERS
—HEMASANKARI PALANI, M.S. SAJEEV, S. SUNDARESAN, S.K. NANDA AND PADMAJA
703–706 IN VITRO EVALUATION OF AYURVEDIC DRUGS AGAINST PATHOGEN ALTERNARIA SOLANI
CAUSING LEAF SPOT DISEASES IN TOMATO
—P.J. MAHAJAN, K.S. RAGHUWANSHI, S.G. BORKAR AND N.A. KADAM
II CONTENTS

707–712 BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION BY ENDOPHYTIC ISOLATES FROM RHIZOMES OF ZINGIBER

ZERUMBET
—HARSHA K., SHALIMA M.V. AND ASWATI R. NAIR
713–717 EVALUATION OF SESAME VARIETIES FOR RESISTANCE TO SESAME LEAF ROLLER AND
CAPSULE BORER, ANTIGASTRA CATALAUNALIS (DUP.)
—AJAY KUMAR YADAV, AKHTER HUSSAIN, SANJU PIPLODA AND SUMITRA CHOUDHARY
718–727 RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY FOR OPTIMIZATION OF FLAKING PROCESS FROM
PROCESSING OF SELECTED PADDY HYBRID
—HEMASANKARI PALANI, P.C. VENGAIAH, ISRP. SARMA, B.C. VIRAKTAMATH AND RAVINDRA NAIK
728–734 STUDY OF RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION PATTERN AND ITS VARIABILITY IN BIDAR REGION,
KARNATAKA, INDIA
—VISHWANATH, G.V. VENKATARAMANA AND N. PRABHAKARAN
735–740 ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF RADISH LEAVES EXTRACTS PRODUCED BY MICROWAVE
ASSISTED AND CONVENTIONAL EXTRACTION METHODS
—PARMAR A. AND GENITHA I.
741–745 SERO-PREVALENCE OF BLUE TONGUE VIRUS IN SMALL RUMINANTS OF THE STATE OF
ASSAM
—N.N. BARMAN, D.P. BORA, T.K. DAS, S.K. BISWAS, S.M. GOGOI, P. PATHAK AND S.A. ARIF
746–750 LIGHT EMITTING DIODES IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION SYSTMES
—JYOTHSNA J., SURAJ LUTHRA AND AYISHA SIDHIKA M.
751–756 A SPECTRUM OF BACTERIAL SEPSIS IN COVID-19 POSITIVE AND NON COVID-19 PATIENTS
– AN INDIAN MONOCENTER RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
—R. PREETHY, U. SUNDERESH KAMAL CHANDER, D. ARUNA, MUTHUVEL E. AND SONTI SULOCHANA
757–761 STUDIES ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND NUTRACEUTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHIA
(SALVIA HISPANICA L.) SEED AND OIL
—M. ABDUR RAHMAN, A.K. SINGH, R.N. SHUKLA AND K.S. GADHE
762–766 STORAGE STUDIES OF FUNCTIONAL YOGURT DRINK MADE WITH MEDIUM CHAIN
TRIGLYCERIDE OIL AND ITS QUALITY ATTRIBUTES
—KUSUMA N. WADED AND V. R. SINIJA
767–770 DEVELOPMENT OF BULLOCK DRAWN DIGGER ELEVATOR FOR HARVESTING POTATO
—ASHOKSURAJ B. S., SRINIVAS YARRAKULA, K. N. HANUMANTHARAJU AND ABDUL REHMAN
771–774 INFLUENCE OF NUTRIENTS SOURCE ON RADIAL GROWTH OF MACROPHOMINA
PHASEOLINA (TASSI.) GOID
—M. SURYA PRAKASH REDDY, M. SANTHA LAKSHMI PRASAD, SUBHASH SRI SANJAY MALEMPATI, JAWAHARLAL AND
K.T. RAMYA
775–781 IDENTIFICATION OF PUTATIVE MUP DURING ESTRUS PERIOD IN FEMALE RAJAPALAYAM
BREED DOG BY MALDI-TOF ANALYSIS
—T. R AJAGOPAL, A. DHIVYA, T.R. GAYATHRI, N. M URUGANANTHAM , S. SELVARANI , P. PONMANICKAM , S.
MUNIASAMY AND G. ARCHUNAN
782–787 DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF VALUE ADDED GUAVA-PAPAYA CHEESE
—SONU PRABHA, V.M. PRASAD AND VIJAY BAHADUR
788–794 FEATHER MEAL PREPARATION FROM CHICKEN FEATHERS AND ITS APPLICATION
—S.A. KATE, P.S. NIKAM, N.M. PAWAR, N.A. AHIRE, M.P. JAGTAP, V.R. WADJIKAR, P.M. GIRI AND P.B. KHADKE
795–802 A REVIEW ON ETHNOBOTANICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF VITEX
NEGUNDO L.
—RANJEET KUMAR, RAHUL KUMAR, JAGDISH SINGH, SWARAN LATA AND JOGINDER SINGH
803–806 PHYSICO–CHEMICAL, NUTRITIONAL AND SENSORIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RAGI PASTA
ENRICHED WITH RICE AND GUAR GUM
—KUNAL SINGH AND GENITHA IMMANUEL
 CONTENTS III

807–810 EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON ROOT DEVELOPMENT OF DRAGON FRUIT

CUTTINGS [HYLOCEREUSUNDATUS L. (HAWORTH)]
—RAVIKANT, R.S. VERMA, VIPNESH SINGH, RUBEE LATA AND DHARMRAJ MEENA
811–816 DETECTING FIVE YEAR WISE RAINFALL TRENDS OF KALAYAN KARNATAKA, INDIA
—VISHWANATH AND G.V. VENKATARAMANA
817–822 PHYSICO–CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BLENDED BEVERAGES (RTS) PREPARED FROM
GUAVA AND PINEAPPLE
—VAMSI KRISHNA NADELLA, DEVI SINGH, VIJAY BAHADUR, ATUL YADAV, SATYENDRA NATH AND S.K. SRIVASTAVA
823–835 DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF FRESH CASSAVA TUBER AT 2-2.90 GHZ MICROWAVE FREQUENCY
—HEMASANKARI PALANI, S.K. NANDA, K., T. MATHEW, JOE JACOB, V.S. SANTHOSH MITRA AND J.T. SHERIFFUDIN
836–842 ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT SPECIES (IAPS) - IMPLICATION FOR
MANAGEMENT
—A. DEVKOTA, A. SAHU AND R.K. DAS
Asian Jr. of Microbiol. Biotech. Env. Sc. Vol. 23, No. (2) : 2022 : 823-835
© Global Science Publications
ISSN-0972-3005
DOI No.: http://doi.org/10.53550/AJMBES.2022.v24i04.035

DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF FRESH CASSAVA TUBER AT 2-2.90

GHZ MICROWAVE FREQUENCY
HEMASANKARI PALANI*, S.K. NANDA1, K., T. MATHEW2, JOE JACOB3,
V.S. SANTHOSH MITRA4 AND J.T. SHERIFFUDIN5

*Scientist (ss)(AS&PE), Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
1
Principal Scientist (AS&PE), ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
2,3
Electrical and Electronics Department, Kochi, Kerala, India
4,5
ICAR-CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

(Received 29 July, 2022; Accepted 8 September, 2022)

Key words : Cassava, Perturbation, Conductivity, Moisture, Starch, Dielectric properties

Abstract–Rapid quantification of starch present in fresh cassava tuber by electronic means requires a
conductivity work at various points of the tuber. The dielectric parameters of different samples of cassava
tuber (Manihot esculenta L.) at the S-band of the microwave frequencies were determined. Tubers of cassava
varieties of CTCRI, H-226, H-97, Sree Harsha, Sree Prabha, Sree Rekha, Sree Jaya, Sree Sahya, Sree Vijaya,
Sree Prakash, Sree Visakham and H-165 were subjected to the cavity perturbation technique. The range of
S-band microwave frequency tested were 2247, 2440, 2684 and 2970 MHz. Tubers of the variety H-226 had
significantly lower conductivity value was 0.02s/m and the variety H-165, 1.49s/m and are significantly
different. The dielectric constant (real part) of tubers of the varieties, H-165 and H-226 were 34.82 and 14.97
respectively and were significantly different. The proximal part of the tuber had the lowest level of
conductivity followed by the middle portion and then the distal portion being 0.60s/m, 0.65s/m and 0.69s/
m respectively. The dielectric constant decreases steadily with increase in frequency between 2.00-2.90GHz
range for fresh cassava tubers and the dielectric loss factor follows the same pattern. The moisture content
of different varieties of fresh cassava tuber, H-226, H-97, Sree Harsha, Sree Prabha, Sree Rekha, Sree Jaya,
Sree Sahya, Sree Vijaya, Sree Prakash, Sree Visakham and H-165 ranged between 44.52% and 58.66% as
analysed using the moisture analyser at 80 °C. The starch content values estimated by the chemical method
for all the varieties of fresh tuber ranged between 20.78% and 35.94%. The difference in starch content of
tuber between the proximal and the middle region was found to be 3% and that of the middle and distal
region was found to be 2%. The conductivity values of fresh cassava tuber can be used for the development
of a starch indicator based on moisture content.

INTRODUCTION of cassava differ in the amount of starch present and

this varietal difference necessitates an elaborative
Cassava occupies a major role in satisfying the view of the dielectric properties. The amount of
global demand of food and feed. It is a perennial extractable starch is often less as compared to the
crop, has no physiological maturity and the plants amount of chemical starch available in the tuber.
do not exhibit signs as they are ready for harvest. (Sheriff and Balagopalan, 1999; Rickard and Behn,
Cassava can be harvested at anytime from few 1987). The dielectric constant of free water is about
months after being planted, but generally harvested 80 (Jackson, 1990) and the bound water has a lower
at 9-10 months after planting (Gonzalez et al., 2001). dielectric constant. The dielec- tric properties are
Fresh Cassava tubers consists of carbohydrates, highly correlated with moisture content because the
especially starch, protein, fat, calcium and dielectric properties of water are much greater than
phosphorous. The starch content present in fresh those of the dry matter and thus these properties of
cassava tubers is mostly in the range of 20-30% fruits and vegetables, (Nelson, 1992) dielectric
(Balagopalan et al., 1988). Tubers of various varieties properties of fruits and vegetables are useful for non

(*Scientist (ss)(AS&PE), 1Principal Scientist (AS&PE), 2Prof., 3Assitant Prof., 4Principal Scientist (Comp. Applications),
5
Principal Scientist (AS&PE) Agril Engg. Membership Number: LM-7997
824 HEMASANKARI ET AL

destructively measuring other quality factors such fresh cassava tuber samples were collected from the
as maturity (Nelson, 1983). The variation in the field at optimum maturity. The size of the Cassava
dielectric properties at various portions of fresh tuber were approximately similar to that of that
cassava tuber has to be viewed to know the moisture noted by Ohwovoriole et al. (1988). The length of the
distribution along the whole length of the cassava whole cassava tuber was 31.66 cm, the diameter at
tuber. Out of the several methods to view the the proximal portion of the tuber being 6.04 cm, at
conductivity of the fresh cassava tuber, the middle portion of the tuber being 4.66 cm, at the
frequency method seems to be the most simple and distal end being 3.55 cm. The thickness of the peel at
non destructive method. Therefore the more rapid proximal portion being 0.19 cm, at middle end being
method of estimating the dielectric properties and 0.16cm, at the distal end being 0.14 cm. The tubers
the conductivity of the fresh tuber by frequency were washed under tap water for the removal of
method was attempted using the microwave mud surrounding it and then peeled using a knife.
principle. Though various methods are available for The whole tubers were cut into three different
permittivity measurement, the cavity perturbation portions of the same length and each piece was
technique has unique advantages and is the most labeled separately and then cut into small
accurate method (Biju Kumar et al., 2001). The cylindrical pieces by a punching tool. Representative
moisture that is present in fresh cassava tubers can sample from three different portions viz. proximal,
be estimated as a measure of conductivity. The middle and distal regions were taken for the cavity
dielectric parameters, loss or imaginary part of the perturbation study.
complex permittivity at 4 different frequency levels
Experimental Setup and Methods of Measurement
of s-band, 2247, 2440, 2684 and 2970MHz at a
Moisture Content Measurement
temperature of 23 °C was measured. Differs at
different parts of a fresh tubers, proximal, middle The moisture content of 1.0g samples from
and distal regions. Water content in cassava tuber is proximal, middle and distal portions of the fresh
highly attributed to the level of maturity. This work cassava tuber were measured in a Sartorius
aims at the distribution of water content in terms of Moisture Analyser Series (Model MA100/ MA 150)
conductivity of the tubers of optimum maturity. The at 80°C. Each sample approximately took 10-15
conductivity of the cassava tuber samples were done minutes for moisture content determination.
at a lower frequency level since the ionic
Estimation of Starch
conductivity is more pronounced at a lesser
frequency level as compared to higher level of Different cassava varieties of fresh cassava tuber of
frequency. At present chemical methods are used for 10 months were taken. Each tuber was cut into three
the estimation of starch that are laboursome and different portions, proximal, middle and distal. A
time consuming. Moreover it requires trained representative sample (at the middle) rectangular in
personnel and facilitates that are out of the reach of shape weighing 2g dry weight (fresh cassava tuber
most cassava starch factories (Douglas and Robert, dried in oven at 60 °C for 2 days) approximately was
1979). The specific gravity method based on kept overnight under 20 mL of 80% alcohol in a
Archimide’s principal of displacement of water and conical flask. After filtration the residue was taken
estimation of dry matter followed at present is only for starch analysis. To the residue, 20 ml of 2N Hcl
near to the accuracy. Small electronic devices can be was added and hydrolysed by keeping it on a hot
designed and developed for use in various levels of plate for about 15-20 minutes. This hydrolysate was
cassava processing for rapid quantification of starch made upto 100 ml and used for the titrimetric
content of fresh tubers. This study was undertaken determination of starch. 10 ml of 1% potassium
to develop a hand operated mobile/transportable ferri- cyanide and 5 ml of 10% sodium hydroxide
instrument based on the principle of electrical were taken in a 100 ml of conical flask. The contents
conductivity for use by the farmers as well as the were allowed to boil by keeping it on a heater. To
processors for the insitu estimation of starch in the this 2 drops of methylene blue were added as the
raw material. above reagents started boiling. The hydrolysate was
then pipette out drop by drop into the above conical
MATERIALS AND METHODS flask till the contents became colourless. The end
The varieties taken here were harvested during Feb- point reading was noted down (Moorthy and
Mar’2002 for all the cassava tubers. The varieties of Padmaja, 2000). The dry weight of the tuber was
 Dielectric Properties of Fresh Cassava Tuber at 2-2.90ghz Microwave Frequency 825

converted into fresh weight for starch content 59% moisture content, the upper limit of moisture
calculation. For fresh weight, % starch (g/100 g of found out by oven method of moisture content
fresh weight)=(90/5.12) X titre value determination was found to be the highest value of
voltage that is conducted, the value being 90 mV
Cavity Perturbation Technique
and the lowest voltage was found to be 15mV at a
The dielectric theory had been proposed by many moisture content of 48%. The highest moisture
research workers for fruits and vegetables as well as content was found in the variety Sree Visakham and
for liquids (Nelson, 1980; Raveendranath and the lowest moisture bearing variety was H-226. This
Mathew, 1995; Kuang and Nelson, 1998). The real voltage conducted increases with increase in
and imaginary parts of the relative complex thickness of the cassava tuber piece. This difference
permittivity of the biological samples by the above in conductivity value in the same tuber variety may
technique are given by the formula (Raveendranath be due to the varied conductance at different regions
and Mathew, 1995); Mathew and Raveendranath, of the same fresh Cassava tuber. The moisture
1996) €r’=(ft-fs/2fs)(Vc/Vs)+1,€r”=(Vc/4Vs)/(Qt-Qs)/ content at different regions of the same tuber varies
QtQs). The AC conductivity values were worked out and hence conductivity. A study of the conductivity
using the following formula, =€o€r”, =2f is the of the tuber at different regions is a must to develop
angular frequency. The loss tangent is the ratio of the an electronic gadget for the in-situ estimation of
imaginary part to that of the real part of the cassava starch in fresh Cassava tubers. Experiments show
sample and is given by the formula, LT=(€r”/€r’) that Varietal differences also exist and hence this
Here ft is the frequency of the empty cavity, fs is the conductivity study should be extended to different
frequency of the sample, €r’ is the real part of the varieties also for accurate measurement of Starch
relative complex permittivity and is usually known content in fresh Cassava tubers. Starch, a major
as the dielectric constant, €r” the imaginary part of ingredient of Cassava tubers has to be estimated to
the relative complex permittivity and is associated fix the price of the harvested matured crop. The
with the dielectric loss of the material,€0 is the specific gravity balance now used for the estimation
permittivity of the free space and is equal to 8.85X10- of starch content made in Thailand is sturdy in
12
f/m. Vs and Vc are the volumes of the sample and appearance and hence a handy electronic gadget
the cavity resonator in m 3 , respectively. From was fabricated for the insitu estimation of starch in
equations 1 and 2 it is observed that the real part of fresh tubers. Primarily conductivity trials were
the complex permittivity depends on the resonant conducted in fresh Cassava tubers, cut into
frequency shift and the imaginary part depends on proximal, middle and distal, both longitudinally
the quality factor. The present measurement and laterally. The programming was done in ‘C’
technique is simple and easy to operate compared to language. Digital display of the starch content was
the conventional cavity resonator techniques. made. Nearly 1000 starch factories based on tuber
(Raveendranath and Mathew, 1996). crops are situated in TamilNadu alone and hence the
handy small equipment weighing 2 kg will surely
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION benefit the farmers growing tuber crops for the
estimation of starch content. This can also be
The conductivity values have to be found out to calibrated to other tuber crops viz. Sweet potato,
design and develop an electronic gadget for starch Colocasia and Xanthosoma for estimation of starch
estimation since the conductivity values the content.
measure of moisture content values can be
Fabrication of An Electronic Gadget
correlated to the starch content to display the starch
content in the device to be developed. Hence a study The conductivity values have to be found out to
with the Cassava tuber pieces were made for design and develop an electronic gadget for starch
conductivity. The Cassava tuber piece was estimation since the conductivity values and the
connected to the two terminals of the eliminator. measure of moisture content values can be
The input voltage being kept constant the output correlated to the starch content to display the starch
voltage from a known thickness of the cassava tuber content in the device to be developed. Hence a study
piece was found out to fix the upper limit of the with the Cassava tuber pieces were made for
voltage that is conducted by a known thickness of conductivity. The Cassava tuber piece was
the Cassava tuber piece. The voltage conducted at connected to the two terminals of the eliminator.
826 HEMASANKARI ET AL

The input voltage being kept constant the output crops Sweet potato, Colocasia and Xanthosoma for
voltage from a known thickness of the cassava tuber estimation of starch content. The Printed circuit
piece was found out to fix the upper limit of the board made of epoxy material was made with
voltage that is conducted by a known thickness of copper (good conductor) layout. The design layout
the Cassava tuber piece. The voltage conducted at was made on both the sides, one side for affixing the
59% moisture content, the upper limit of moisture components and the other side for the connections,
found out by oven method of moisture content Plated through holes. The size of the Printed Circuit
determination was found to be the highest value of Board is 14.5 × 13.0 cm size. 33 Current limiting
voltage that is conducted, the value being 90mV and resistors made of carbon film and 19 capacitors
the lowest voltage was found to be 15mV at a made of ceramic material and polyester material
moisture content of 48%. The highest moisture blocks ac and passes dc are fitted for voltage control,
content was found in the variety Sree Visakham and
the lowest moisture bearing variety was H-226. This Table 1. Moisture, Starch and Conductivity values of
voltage conducted increases with increase in fresh Cassava tuber
thickness of the cassava tuber piece. This difference Sl. Varieties Moisture Starch Conduc-
in conductivity value in the same tuber variety may No. Content (%) tivity
be due to the varied conductance at different regions (%) (s/m)
of the same fresh cassava tuber. Table 3 shows the 1 H-226-p 44.67 35.54 0.03
conductivity of voltage through the cassava tuber H-226-m 45.78 33.49 0.04
piece of different thickness (Sree Visakham var.) using H-226-d 46.79 32.21 0.05
an eliminator. The moisture content, starch content 2 H-97-p 44.92 35.55 0.05
and conductivity values of all the selected 11 H-97-m 45.93 32.35 0.06
varieties of cassava tuber at three different parts, H-97-d 49.38 31.36 0.08
proximal, middle and distal portion are tabulated 3 Sree Harsha-p 45.00 34.7 0.10
Sree Harsha-m 48.56 31.35 0.13
(Table 1) Table 4 show the voltage conducted and
Sree Harsha-d 49.95 28.96 0.17
the moisture content in different varieties of fresh
4 Sree Prabha-p 48.15 31.56 0.24
Cassava tuber. The moisture content at different Sree Prabha-m 49.66 29.35 0.29
regions of the same tuber varies and hence Sree Prabha-d 50.63 26.92 0.37
conductivity. Conductivity of the tuber at different 5 Sree Rekha-p 48.83 30.64 0.43
regions is a must to develop an electronic gadget for Sree Rekha-m 50.73 28.83 0.51
the in-situ estimation of starch in fresh cassava Sree Rekha-d 52.74 26.76 0.56
tubers. Experiments show that varietal differences 6 Sree Jaya-p 48.93 30.35 0.64
also exist and hence this conductivity study should Sree Jaya-m 50.93 28.24 0.70
be extended to different varieties also for accurate Sree Jaya-d 54.07 25.42 0.76
7 Sree Sahya-p 49.77 29.2 0.84
measurement of starch content in fresh cassava
Sree Sahya-m 52.77 27.46 0.89
tubers. Starch, a major ingredient of cassava tubers Sree Sahya-d 55.33 25.11 0.96
has to be estimated to fix the price of the harvested 8 Sree Vijaya-p 50.8 28.77 1.03
matured crop. The specific gravity balance now Sree Vijaya-m 53.03 26.33 1.10
used for the estimation of starch content made in Sree Vijaya-d 55.48 24.59 1.16
Thailand is sturdy in appearance and hence a handy 9 Sree Prakash-p 51.42 28.76 1.23
electronic gadget was fabricated for the insitu Sree Prakash-m 54.68 25.04 1.30
estimation of starch in fresh tubers. Primarily Sree Prakash-d 55.71 23.68 1.36
conductivity trials were conducted in fresh cassava 10 Sree Visakham-p 53.36 26.01 1.42
Sree Visakham-m 55.24 23.60 1.49
tubers, cut into proximal, middle and distal, both
Sree Visakham-d 57.77 22.05 1.55
longitudinally and laterally. The programming was 11 H-165-p 54.51 25.60 1.62
done in ‘C’ language. Digital display of the starch H-165-m 55.50 21.74 1.69
content was made. Nearly 1000 starch factories H-165-d 59.41 21.43 1.76
based on tuber crops are situated in TamilNadu p-Proximal,
alone and hence the handy small equipment m-Middle, d-Distal
weighing 2 kg will surely benefit the farmers SD 3.87 3.89 0.57
growing tuber crops for the estimation of starch SEM 0.67 0.68 0.10
content. This can also be calibrated to other tuber Cv 0.08 0.14 0.77
 Dielectric Properties of Fresh Cassava Tuber at 2-2.90ghz Microwave Frequency 827

the value of the capacitors being 0.01µF. The Intel probe of length 80cm is attached in front of the
chips made of ceramic, a semi-conducting material cabinet of size 22.5 × 20.5 × 7 cm. The Light Emitting
of different pin sizes are fitted to the Printed Circuit Diode display is for 2 decimal places along with a
Board. The voltage to every chip is examined by a whole number. The starch value is to be displayed,
capacitor and only it allows dc voltage to pass the alphabet ‘S’ is also displayed along with the
through and blocks ac through the intel chips, value. The maximum value loaded for moisture is
otherwise the chips may get damaged. Holes for 74% for a starch content of 20% and the minimum
connecting point wire are also made and silver value of moisture being 44% for a starch content of
coated copper wires are laid for better conductance. 50%. This calibration is made based on the values
20 Transistors (switching type) are fitted and safe obtained by chemical method of estimation of
guarded by resistors. The memory chips, Erasable starch. In addition to the alternating current supply,
programmable Read Only Memory (N.2732) has a the battery connection to work with direct current
memory capacity of 4KB and Random Access supply is also made. Field trial with the developed
Memory (N.6116) has a memory capacity of 2K. The gadget with direct current power supply is made
chips that are assembled in the Printed Circuit and found reliable. A glass panel is fitted in front of
Board has different number of pins each differing in the metal cabinet with an ON/OFF switch at the
the number and functions. viz. 40 Pin IC – 88320, 24 right side and a power indicator bulb at the top of
Pin IC-8824SUM6116, (S-Ram of 2 × 8 bit size) 24Pin the ON/OFF switch. The wire probe at the other end
IC-U64300-36S (Analogtodigital convertor), 20Pin is provided with a plastic teflon rod of length 8 cm
IC-HD74LS273P, 20PinIC–SN74LS244N, to provide the inserting (testing) needle of size,
(Bidirectional buffer) 16 PinIC-HD74 LS138P,(D- length 4cm and 2mm thickness to project into the
coder) 14 Pin IC-DM74 LS90N, 14 PinIC– fresh tuber to measure its starch content. Assembly
HD74LS04. A bidirectional buffer is also attached for program had been loaded in the memory chip
two way signal. 3 S-G Connectors are also fitted and (Microprocessor INTEL780CPV) occupying a space
a rechargeable battery of 7V is fitted for power of 1000KB. Battery operation was also made. A
supply. This set up of Printed Circuit Board with all regulator circuit is provided to make it to work on
the components fixed is mounted on to a metal 6V rechargeable battery, a cut off relay cuts and
cabinet of size 23 × 21 × 7 cm. The light emitting provides 5V supply to the circuit and this battery
diode (Light Emitting Diode) display board is can be charged for 3 h simultaneously while
attached to the front of the cabinet. There are operating on alternating current supply. This direct
provisions in front of the cabinet for digital display. current supply makes the developed gadget to be
Fig.10 shows the schematic diagram of the starch portable in the true sense. The current carrying
indicator developed using the above technique to capacity of the battery is 300 mA. A control switch
measure the starch content of the fresh cassava is provided at the back of the developed gadget to
tubers in the field. The values of moisture content have ON/OFF functions. The switch of direct current
and starch content were loaded in the memory chips has to be kept in OFF position while operating using
to set the range of display for all the varieties of alternating current supply. This is more helpful in
cassava tuber. The sensor probe is affixed to the field evaluation where alternating current supply is
above circuit to sense the moisture and the not possible. In the alternate method using
corresponding value of starch gets displayed in the frequency principle, the conductivity of the fresh
Light Emitting Diode display unit. The selector cassava tuber is estimated to be 1.76S/m at the distal
switches are for the following functions, ON/OFF, portion of the tuber and the value being 1.63S/m at
display of moisture content and dis - play of starch the proximal end and the value being 1.70S/m at the
content. The sensor accuracy is adjusted to ±0.5%. middle portion of the fresh cassava tuber by cavity
The values of 11 varieties of starch were stored in perturbation technique studies at a highest
Random Access Memory and the values of moisture frequency of 2970MHz. It was found that the values
which is sensed by the sensor were stored in tend to decrease at a still higher frequency level. The
Programmable Read Only Memory. The higher limit dielectric properties dielectric constant, dielectric
of millivolts sensed by the sensor for starch content loss factor and the loss tangent for the fresh cassava
estimation is within 100 mV. Appropriate electrical tuber were also worked out. The moisture content of
connections were made for the digital display of all the 11 varieties of cassava were compared with
starch content of the fresh cassava tuber. Detachable the chemical method of estimation of starch.
828 HEMASANKARI ET AL

Feasibility of the fabrication of the STARCH convertor converts the reading in analog to digital
INDICATOR was studied with the voltage principle. value. Detachable probe of length 80 cm is attached
The circuit diagram with Random Access Memory in front of the cabinet of size 22.5 × 20.5 × 7.0 cm. The
and PROM facility were made so as to have a digital Light Emitting Diode display is for 2 decimal places
display of starch content of the tuber in the along with a whole number. Starch value is to be
electronic gadget that is to be made. An alternate displayed, the alphabet ‘S’ is also displayed along
method was also tried using the microwave with the value. The maximum value loaded for
principle. Conductivity studies at S-band frequency moisture is 60% for a starch content of 20% and the
level were conducted for all the varieties of cassava minimum value of moisture being 45% for a starch
tubers. Different varieties of fresh cassava tubers viz. content of 35%. This calibration is made based on
H-226, H-97, Sree Harsha, Sree Prabha, Sree Rekha, the values obtained by chemical method of
Sree Jaya, Sree Sahya, Sree Vijaya, Sree Prakash, Sree estimation of starch. In addition to the alternating
Visakham and H-165 at tenth month maturity stage current supply, the battery connection to work with
were analysed for its moisture content. Fig. 4 shows direct current supply is also made. Field trial with
that variation of moisture content and starch content the developed gadget with direct current power
of three different parts of fresh cassava tuber. Three supply is made and found reliable. A glass panel is
different regions proximal, middle and distal in fitted in front of the metal cabinet with an ON/OFF
each fresh cassava tuber were taken and analysed switch at the right side and a power indicator bulb
for its moisture content in the moisture analyser and at the top of the ON/OFF switch. The wire probe at
starch content by chemical method. Fresh cassava the other end is provided with a plastic teflon rod of
tubers at tenth month maturity were analysed for its length 8cm to provide the inserting (testing) needle
electrical conductivity by cavity perturbation of size, length 4 cm and 2 mm thickness to project
technique in the S-band frequency level. The into the fresh tuber to measure its starch content.
experimental set up consisted of a HP 8510 vector The values of moisture content, dielectric constant,
network analyser, a sweep oscillator, a S- parameter dielectric loss factor, conductivity and loss tangent
test set and a rectangular cavity resonator. The of fresh cassava tuber is represented in Table 1 for all
resonant frequency and quality (Q) factor of the the varieties of fresh cassava tuber in three different
resonant cavity with and without the samples in the regions at 2247, 2440, 2684 and 2970 MHz at 23°C.
cavity were measured and the dielectric parameters The dielectric properties, or permittivity, describe
were evaluated. All the measurements were done in the interaction of the material with an electric field.
S-band (2-4GHz) at 23 °C. Cylindrical shaped fresh (Tanaka et al., 2002). The dielectric properties of the
cassava samples from proximal, middle and distal materials include dielectric constant, dielectric loss
portions of all the varieties were analysed using the factor, conductivity and loss tangent. The varieties
above technique for its microwave conductivity. In H-226 showed significantly lower value of
the microwave studies the conductivity (s) is conductivity and the value recorded was 0.02S/m
expressed in terms of the loss or imaginary part of and the variety H-165 recorded 1.49S/m value and
the complex permittivity. The conductivity is found are significantly different when statistically
to increase with the increase in the frequency level. analysed. The proximal portion showed a lower
Fig.3. shows the variation in conductivity to starch level of conductivity followed by the middle portion
content in different varieties of fresh cassava tuber. and then the distal portion, the values of
Assembly program had been loaded in the memory conductivity being 0.60S/m, 0.65S/m and 0.69s/m.
chip (Microprocessor INTEL 780CPV) occupying a The frequency 2970MHz had a pronounced effect as
space of 1000KB. ‘C’ language is used in the chip compared to the other frequencies since it recorded
programming. The moisture content and starch the highest values of conductivity of 0.73S/m and
content values are coded in terms of binary coding the lowest was 0.58S/m at 2247MHz. It was found
of 0’s and 1’s. First initialization of the display takes that the amount of moisture was high at the
place, then the values is sensed in terms of millivolt proximal region followed by the middle and then
and then converted into percentage reading, for the distal region. Any change in the moisture
moisture value the value is as such read and for content of the fresh cassava tuber, produces a
starch content value the value in percentage is relative change in dielectric properties. In the case of
subtracted from 94%, the starch value is displayed dielectric loss factor (imaginary part) the variety H-
along with the ‘S’ symbol. The device A to D 165 recorded 10.38 value and was found to be the
 Dielectric Properties of Fresh Cassava Tuber at 2-2.90ghz Microwave Frequency 829

highest and in the variety H-226 the value was found variety H-226, 0.01 showed the lowest value and the
to be the lowest, the value being 0.16. The imaginary highest was recorded by the H-165, 0.29 variety. The
part is the loss factor describing the rate of energy loss tangent was lowest, 0.15 at 2970MHz frequency
dissipation in the material (Garcia et al., 2001). and the highest, 0.15 was at 2247MHz frequency.
Dielectric properties are highly correlated with The loss tangent values for all the varieties were less
frequency, temperature and moisture content of the than one in the 2-3GHz region of microwave
material (Table 2). The conductivity values increase frequency. Fig. 7 shows the relaionship between
with increase in frequency level. The dielectric moisture content and dielectric loss tangent at
constant decreases steadily with increase in different parts of cassava. Fig. 4 shows that
frequency between 2.00-2.90GHz and the dielectric relationship between moisture content and dielectric
loss factor also follows the same pattern. The constant at different parts of cassava. As the
dielectric constant (real part) of the varieties H-165 frequency increases the inertia of the molecule and
and H-226 recorded the highest and the lowest the binding forces become dominant and it is the
values respectively and the values were 34.82s/m basis of the dielectric heating or dielectric loss (John
and 14.98s/m respectively. This trend agrees with et al., 2001). The proximal part showed the lowest
the previously published data for fresh fruits and loss tangent whereas the distal part showed the
vegetables from 0.20 to 20GHz (Nelson et al., 1994). highest value of loss tangent and the values
The frequency 2970MHz had a pronounced effect recorded were 0.15 and 0.16 respectively. Very little
and the least effective frequency was found to be difference is only noted between the three different
2247MHz. At low frequency the dielectric constant regions of the same tuber for all dielectric
is very much dependant on the specific material properties. Even the small difference would be
properties especially conductivity. High frequency helpful in accurate determinations. The conductivity
measurements are therefore essential to minimize being higher at the distal end may be due to the
the sensitivity of the material type (Wobschal, 1978) presence of moisture to a large extent in the fresh
All the dielectric parameters are plotted against the cassava tuber than starch. The lower value of
frequency will determine the contribution of water conductivity at the proximal end may be due to the
to dielectric polarization (Fig. 1). (Hoekstra and presence of higher amount of starch. This result is
Delaney, 1974) As loss tangent was considered, the confirmed with all the varieties of cassava tuber
being tested. Fig. 3 shows that the variation of
dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor,
conductivity and loss tangent values of fresh cassava
tuber with respect to 4 different frequency levels
(MHz). The variation with the frequency is also
found to be small. This may be due to the fact that
the very narrow range of frequency is used for
experimental purposes. In Table 1 the varieties of
cassava tuber are listed in order of increasing

Fig. 4. Relationship between Fig. 5. Relationship between

moisture content moisture and and
Fig. 3. Variation of Mean values of Dielectric Constant, dielectric loss factor dielectric constant at
Dielectric loss Factor, Conductivity and Loss at three different of three different parts
Tangent values of fresh Cassava Tuber with parts of cassava tuber of cassava tuber
respect to 4 different frequency levels (MHz)
830 HEMASANKARI ET AL

Table 2. Moisture Content, Dielectric Constant, Dielectric Loss Tangent, Conduc tivity and Loss Tangent values of fresh
cassava tuber.
S. Frequency Variety M.C (%) DC DLF C (S/m) LT
No. (MHz)
1a 2247 H-165-p 53.86 34.66 10.17 1.27 0.29
2440 34.45 10.01 1.35 0.29
2687 34.40 9.93 1.48 0.28
2970 34.35 9.86 1.62 0.28
1b 2247 H-165-m 54.8 34.87 10.56 1.32 0.30
2440 34.83 10.48 1.42 0.30
2687 34.80 10.37 1.54 0.29
2970 34.71 10.25 1.69 0.29
1c 2247 H-165-d 58.66 35.56 10.97 1.37 0.30
2440 35.36 10.82 1.46 0.30
2687 35.25 10.76 1.60 0.30
2970 35.21 10.66 1.76 0.30
2a 2247 Sree Visakham-p 52.76 32.87 8.95 1.11 0.27
2440 32.84 8.80 1.19 0.26
2687 32.72 8.75 1.30 0.26
2970 32.71 8.60 1.42 0.26
2b 2247 Sree Visakham-m 54.59 33.65 9.38 1.17 0.27
2440 33.60 9.20 1.24 0.27
2687 33.17 9.08 1.35 0.27
2970 33.10 9.03 1.49 0.27
2c 2247 Sree Visakham-d 57.07 33.90 9.68 1.21 0.28
2440 33.86 9.64 1.30 0.28
2687 33.81 9.51 1.42 0.28
2970 33.69 9.41 1.55 0.27
3a 2247 Sree Prakash-p 50.87 30.89 7.70 0.96 0.24
2440 30.81 7.65 1.03 0.24
2687 30.65 7.50 1.12 0.24
2970 30.57 7.47 1.23 0.24
3b 2247 Sree Prakash-m 54.08 31.87 8.10 1.01 0.25
2440 31.56 8.02 1.08 0.25
2687 31.31 7.96 1.19 0.25
2970 31.19 7.89 1.30 0.25
3c 2247 Sree Prakash-d 55.06 32.57 8.56 1.07 0.26
2440 32.48 8.40 1.14 0.25
2687 32.35 8.30 1.24 0.25
2970 32.22 8.24 1.36 0.25
4a 2247 Sree Vijaya-p 50.3 28.89 6.53 0.81 0.22
2440 28.86 6.44 0.87 0.22
2687 28.82 6.38 0.95 0.22
2970 28.72 6.27 1.03 0.21
4b 2247 Sree Vijaya-m 52.48 29.63 6.92 0.86 0.23
2440 29.50 6.88 0.93 0.23
2687 29.25 6.78 1.01 0.23
2970 29.03 6.69 1.10 0.23
4c 2247 Sree Vijaya-d 54.88 30.56 7.30 0.91 0.23
2440 30.45 7.20 0.97 0.23
2687 30.37 7.10 1.06 0.23
2970 30.12 7.04 1.16 0.23
5a 2247 Sree Sahya-p 49.32 26.88 5.31 0.66 0.19
2440 26.88 5.24 0.71 0.19
2687 26.46 5.17 0.77 0.19
2970 26.45 5.08 0.84 0.19
 Dielectric Properties of Fresh Cassava Tuber at 2-2.90ghz Microwave Frequency 831

Table 2. Continued ...

S. Frequency Variety M.C (%) DC DLF C (S/m) LT
No. (MHz)
5b 2247 Sree Sahya-m 52.27 27.87 5.76 0.72 0.20
2440 27.87 5.67 0.77 0.20
2687 27.42 5.57 0.83 0.20
2970 27.09 5.42 0.89 0.20
5c 2247 Sree Sahya-d 54.78 28.61 6.19 0.77 0.21
2440 28.59 6.01 0.81 0.21
2687 28.15 5.92 0.88 0.21
2970 28.10 5.84 0.96 0.20
6a 2247 Sree Jaya-p 48.53 24.77 4.16 0.52 0.16
2440 24.64 4.09 0.55 0.16
2687 24.61 3.93 0.58 0.16
2970 24.61 3.88 0.64 0.15
6b 2247 Sree Jaya-m 50.48 25.66 4.55 0.56 0.17
2440 25.53 4.48 0.60 0.17
2687 25.15 4.31 0.64 0.17
2970 25.01 4.27 0.70 0.17
6c 2247 Sree Jaya-d 53.57 26.40 4.94 0.61 0.18
2440 26.31 4.82 0.65 0.18
2687 26.06 4.75 0.71 0.18
2970 25.98 4.62 0.76 0.17
7a 2247 Sree Rekha-p 48.48 22.86 2.92 0.36 0.12
2440 22.86 2.80 0.38 0.12
2687 22.52 2.72 0.40 0.12
2970 22.47 2.63 0.43 0.11
7b 2247 Sree Rekha-m 50.33 23.90 3.32 0.41 0.13
2440 23.73 3.27 0.44 0.13
2687 23.56 3.17 0.47 0.13
2970 23.36 3.08 0.51 0.13
7c 2247 Sree Rekha-d 52.29 24.39 3.79 0.47 0.15
2440 24.25 3.63 0.49 0.15
2687 24.24 3.54 0.52 0.14
2970 24.14 3.40 0.56 0.14
8a 2247 Sree Prabha-p 47.85 20.92 1.75 0.21 0.08
2440 20.89 1.61 0.21 0.07
2687 20.79 1.56 0.23 0.07
2970 20.70 1.49 0.24 0.07
8b 2247 Sree Prabha-m 49.31 21.64 2.19 0.27 0.10
2440 21.52 2.06 0.28 0.09
2687 21.36 1.93 0.28 0.09
2970 21.28 1.80 0.29 0.08
8c 2247 Sree Prabha-d 50.23 22.35 2.51 0.31 0.11
2440 22.33 2.48 0.33 0.11
2687 22.08 2.34 0.35 0.10
2970 22.07 2.28 0.37 0.10
9a 2247 Sree Harsha-p 44.75 18.91 0.78 0.09 0.04
2440 18.80 0.73 0.10 0.03
2687 18.65 0.69 0.10 0.03
2970 18.43 0.66 0.10 0.03
9b 2247 Sree Harsha-m 48.26 19.90 0.95 0.12 0.04
2440 19.77 0.93 0.12 0.04
2687 19.47 0.86 0.13 0.04
2970 18.96 0.82 0.13 0.04
832 HEMASANKARI ET AL

Table 2. Continued ...

S. Frequency Variety M.C (%) DC DLF C (S/m) LT
No. (MHz)
9c 2247 Sree Harsha-d 49.6 20.66 1.37 0.17 0.06
2440 20.52 1.27 0.17 0.06
2687 20.38 1.17 0.17 0.05
2970 20.16 1.07 0.17 0.05
10a 2247 H-97-p 44.72 16.89 0.37 0.04 0.02
2440 16.76 0.36 0.04 0.02
2687 16.67 0.35 0.05 0.02
2970 16.51 0.34 0.05 0.02
10b 2247 H-97-m 45.68 17.89 0.45 0.05 0.02
2440 17.65 0.46 0.06 0.02
2687 17.58 0.42 0.06 0.02
2970 17.16 0.38 0.06 0.02
10c 2247 H-97-d 49.08 18.26 0.61 0.07 0.03
2440 18.25 0.58 0.08 0.03
2687 18.24 0.55 0.08 0.03
2970 18.12 0.52 0.08 0.02
11a 2247 H-226-p 44.52 14.85 0.23 0.03 0.01
2440 14.85 0.22 0.03 0.01
2687 14.55 0.22 0.03 0.01
2970 14.31 0.20 0.03 0.01
11b 2247 H-226-m 45.58 15.77 0.28 0.03 0.01
2440 15.74 0.27 0.03 0.01
2687 15.617 0.26 0.03 0.01
2970 15.384 0.24 0.04 0.01
11c 2247 H-226-d 46.54 16.452 0.33 0.04 0.02
2440 16.426 0.32 0.04 0.02
2687 16.299 0.31 0.04 0.01
2970 16.177 0.30 0.05 0.01
Average 50.78 25.44 4.66 0.67 0.16
SD 3.67 6.27 3.46 0.50 0.10
SEM 0.32 0.55 0.30 0.04 0.01
CV 0.07 0.25 0.74 0.75 0.61
p-Proximal, m-Middle, d-Distal

moisture content. From the experiments it is found conductivity factor of the fresh tuber. The co-
that the moisture content and the starch content are efficient of variation for conductivity among
inversely proportional thus showing that as the varieties ranged in between 10.08 to 72.33 for
moisture content increases conductivity increases dielectric loss factor it was between 3.45 to 71.87, for
and starch content values decreases. Since moisture loss tangent it varied between 2.20 to 75.13, for
content is a dominant variable affecting the dielectric constant it varied in between 1.12 to 6.14.
permittivity values, a correlation between the As part difference was considered, for conductivity,
dielectric constant and water content is to be the coefficient of variation ranged between 74.99 to
expected. As far as accuracy is concerned by this 81.98, for dielectric loss factor, it varied between
measurement technique it would require many 74.06 to 81.08, for loss tangent it varied between
more measurements on numerous samples of a 61.87 to 69.01, for dielectric constant it varied
given variety both longitudinalwise and lateralwise between 24.56 to 26.70. As frequency difference was
of the different varieties of the fresh cassava tuber. considered, for conductivity the coefficient of
The frequency dependant behaviour of the dielectric variation values ranged between 76.55 to 79.08, for
constant and loss factor in 2-3GHz range exhibits dielectric loss factor it ranged between 76.55 to
evidence of ionic conductivity. The results clearly 79.08, for loss tangent it ranged between 64.37 to
shows that the imaginary part influences the 67.02, for dielectric constant it ranged between 25.49
 Dielectric Properties of Fresh Cassava Tuber at 2-2.90ghz Microwave Frequency 833

to 26.05. The moisture content of different varieties tuber ranged in between 20.78 to 35.94%. The starch
of fresh cassava tubers H-226, H-97, Sree Harsha, content values decreased from the proximal to the
Sree Prabha, Sree Rekha, Sree Jaya, Sree Sahya, Sree distal end of the tuber. Similar to the correlation
Vijaya, Sree Prakash, Sree Visakham and H-165 between conductivity and moisture content, the
ranged in between 44.50 to 58.66% as analysed by above can be extended to starch content also. The
the moisture analyzer at 80 oC. Fig. 6 shows that variety H-226 had a higher starch content, 34.58 and
relationship between moisture content and the variety H-165 22.92 had a lower starch content.
conductivity at different parts of cassava tuber. Fig.5 All the other varieties were in between. The
shows that relationship between moisture content proximal part had a higher amount of starch, 30.63
and dielectric constant at three different parts of followed by the middle portion, 27.98 and then the
cassava tuber. The starch content values estimated distal portion 26.22. The coefficient of variation for
by the chemical method for all the varieties of fresh varieties varied in between 5.95 to 9.53, for the parts
the coefficient of variation varied between 12.40 to
Table 3. Study for the Conductivity of voltage through 13.12. The coefficient of variation increased from
the cassava tuber piece of different thickness proximal to distal end. The overall coefficient of
(Sree Visakham var.) using an eliminator : variation was found to be 14.27. The coefficient of
S. Range in the Thickness Resistance Dc variation for moisture content values ranged
No. eliminator the cassava in ohms Voltage between 2.13 to 4.84 for all the varieties for part it
for testing of tuber ranged between 7.13 to 6.66. The variety H-165 had
in volts piece the higher moisture 45.74 while the variety H-226
1. 1.5 3.5 0.11 1.6 had the lower, moisture, 56.47. The proximal part
4.5 0.126 1.89 had the lower moisture 49.12 while the distal part
5.5 0.128 1.92 had a higher moisture,53.38. The overall coefficient
6.5 0.130 1.95 of variation was found to be 7.56 for moisture
7.5 0.135 2.02 content analysis.
2. 3.0 3.5 0.026 0.4 The distal part conductivity on fresh weight basis
4.5 0.227 3.41 is more compared to proximal and middle portions
5.5 0.243 3.64 of the tuber, moisture content is most in distal
6.5 0.251 3.77
portion followed by middle and then proximal end.
7.5 0.258 3.87
3. 4.5 3.5 0.366 5.5 This may be due to the formulation of starch more in
4.5 0.376 5.65 the middle portion and then little less in the
5.5 0.382 5.74 proximal end. Starch and moisture content are the
6.5 0.388 5.82 two entities found in cassava starch tubers. Among
7.5 0.388 5.82 the parts tested the conductivity at 4 different
4. 6.0 3.5 0.497 7.45
4.5 0.513 7.69 Table 4. Voltage conducted and the moisture content in
5.5 0.513 7.69 different varieties of fresh Cassava tuber
6.5 0.519 7.78
Sl. Cassava Voltage Moisture content
7.5 0.528 7.92
No. tuber – Conducted by Oven method
5. 7.5 3.5 0.344 5.16
Variety (mV) (%wb)
4.5 0.491 7.37
5.5 0.553 8.3 1. H-226 15 48
6.5 0.590 8.85 74 51
7.5 0.625 9.38 90 53
6. 9.0 3.5 0.003 0.04 2. H-97 17 51
4.5 0.004 0.06 25 52
5.5 0.006 0.09 38 54
6.5 0.008 0.12 3. Sree Sahya 18 52
7.5 0.017 0.25 24‘ 54
7. 12.0 3.5 0.953 14.3 70 57
4.5 1.030 15.5 4. Sree Visakham 22 55
5.5 1.040 15.6 48 57
6.5 1.082 16.23 60 58
7.5 1.093 16.39 90 59
834 HEMASANKARI ET AL

frequency levels of 2247, 2440, 2687 and 2970MHz.

Among the parts tested on fresh weight basis in
conductivity, 1.76s/m is the highest conductivity in
the distal end, moisture content being 59.41%,
starch content being 21.43%. The least moisture
content selected variety is H-226 in proximal end
and the value is 44.67% and starch content is 35.54%

Fig. 8. Starch content at different parts of the fresh cassava

tuber

Fig. 6. Relationship between moisture content and

conductivity at three different parts of different
cassava tuber

Fig. 9. Moisture content at different parts of fresh cassava

tuber the

and the least conductivity is 0.03. The least moisture

content variety is H-226 followed by H-97, Sree-
Harsha, Sree Prabha, Sree Rekha, Sree Jaya, Sree
Fig. 7. Relationship between moisture content and Sahya, Sree Vijaya, Sree Prakash, Sree Visakham and
dielectric loss tangent at three parts of cassava
H-165 in all the three parts of proximal, middle and
tuber
distal end. The co-efficient of variation in moisture
content is 0.08, in starch content is 0.14 and in
conductivity it is 0.77. From the anova table, it is
found that critical difference at 5% and 1% level of
significance is very low for moisture content, starch
content and conductivity. The anova for moisture
indicator the critical difference at 5% level of
significance is 1.04 and at 1% level of significance it
is 1.49,cv is 0.96, from the anova for starch indicator,
the critical difference of 0.84.

CONCLUSION
In general dielectric properties depend on
frequency, moisture content and temperature. The
Fig. 10. Schematic diagram of the starch gadget for in situ dielectric properties of materials are determined
estimation of starch in fresh cassava tubers. since these properties of materials determine the
 Dielectric Properties of Fresh Cassava Tuber at 2-2.90ghz Microwave Frequency 835

nature of the interaction of electro-magnetic energy centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali,
with the materials at microwave frequencies. The Columbia, S6-11.
deviation of dielectric constant (real part) of Hoekstra, P. and Delaney, A. 1974. Dielectric properties of
soils at UHF and microwave frequencies. Journal of
different varieties of the cassava tuber samples with
Geophysical Research. 79(11) : 1699-1708.
respect to the frequency are presented. Since Jackson, T.J. 1990. Laboratory Evaluation of a Field
representative sample was taken for all the varieties portable Dielectric/soil moisture probe. IEEE.
of the cassava, cavity perturbation study was Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. 28:
adopted. Cavity perturbation method is the rapid No.2.
and non-destructive method of measurement of John, H., Biju Kumar, S., Mathew, K.T. and Ravi Joseph,
moisture. This study helps in establishing the 2001. Effect of drying conditions on microwave
distribution of moisture content in terms of conductivity of polyaniline. Journal of Applied Polymer
Science. 83 : 2008-2012.
electrical conductivity throughout the sample which
Kuang, W. and Nelson, S.O. 1998. Low frequency dielectric
will be very helpful in the development of an properties of Biological Tissue: A Review with some
electronic starch indicator. In most of the varieties new insights. Transactions of the ASAE. 41(1) : 173-
tested, the conductivity was found to increase with 184.
the increase in the frequency level in fresh sample. Moorthy, S.N. and Padmaja, G. 2000. A rapid titrimetric
All the measurements were the average of two method for the determination of starch content of
observations, the number of replications may be Cassava tubers. Journal of Root Crops. 26.
Nelson, S.O. 1980. Microwave Dielectric properties of fresh
increased along with the analysis both longitudinal
fruits and vegetables. Transactions of the ASAE. No.79-
wise and lateralwise of the fresh tuber. The study 3546: 1314-1317.
shows the possibility of using this technique for the Nelson, S.O. 1983. Dielectric properties of some fruits and
development of starch indicator for the vegetables at frequencies of 2.45 to 22GHZ.
determination of starch in fresh cassava tubers. Transactions of the ASAE. 613-616.
Nelson, S.O. 1992. Microwave dielectric properties of fresh
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT onions. Transactions of the ASAE. 35(3) : 963-966.
The authors are thankful for the encouragement Nelson, S.O., Forbes, W.R. Jr. and Lawrence, K.C. 1994.
Microwave permittivities of fresh fruits and
given by Dr. S. Edison, Director of CTCRI, Dr. G.
vegetables from 0.20 to 20GHZ. Transactions of the
Padmaja, Head, Division of Crop Utilization and ASAE. 37(1) : 183-189.
Bio-technology (CUBT) for critically going through Ohwovoriole, N. Ejovo, Sunday Oboli, A.C.C. Mgbeke,
the manuscript and to Dr. M. Unnikrishnan for 1988. Studies and preliminary design for a cassava
providing the plant materials for the study. tuber peeling machine. Transactions of the ASAE. 31(2):
March-April.
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