Abstract
Two varieties of cowpea namely indigenous brown (Variety A) and RMP- 12 (Sampea -10) white (Variety B) were collected and their Physicomechanical properties were determined. The results of moisture content, sizes and mass of pods and seeds were {(6.5 % & 6.8%), (5.5 % & 6.0 %))}, {(150 mm & 130 mm), (9 mm & 10 mm)) and {(1.8g & 2.0 g),(0.9g & 0.8 g))} respectively. Other results found were particle density, angle of repose, coefficient of friction, hardness and shape/ sphericity of seeds and pods were {(280g & 376 g), (287 g & 275g)}; {(39 omicron & 36 omicron), (29.6 omicron & 30.9 omicron)} {(0.58 & omicron.63), (0.42 & 0.4 1)}; {(5N & 5N), (9N & 8.5 N)} and {(66 % & 69 %), (79 % & 75 %)} respectively. The F- 0 values obtained for the varietal differences were found less than those in the F- Table at 5% level of confidence, which signified the non existence of significant differences between the varieties. The physicomechanical properties were used for the design of a motorized cowpea thresher.