Physical characteristics of selected major coarse cereals and pulses grown in tribal regions of Alluri Sitharama Raju District, Andhra Pradesh

The present study evaluated the physical characteristics of selected major coarse cereals and pulses cultivated in tribal regions of the Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh and compared them with corresponding control samples. The crops analysed included kidney bean, red gram, cowpea, finger millet, little millet, and rice. Physical properties such as colour attributes (L*, a*, b*), 100-grain weight, grain dimensions (length, width, thickness, and grain size), bulk density, and true density were determined using standard analytical methods. Significant variations were observed between tribal and control samples for several parameters. Tribal samples of finger millet and little millet exhibited significantly lower lightness (L*) values along with increased redness and yellowness, indicating enhanced seed coat pigmentation. Little millet showed a significant increase in 100-grain weight, whereas most pulses did not exhibit significant differences. Grain dimensions varied marginally among crops, with finger millet width and rice grain length showing significant differences between treatments. Bulk density was significantly lower in tribal little millet, while true density values did not differ significantly for most samples. Overall, the results indicate that agro-ecological conditions and local cultivation practices in tribal regions influence the physical properties of coarse cereals and pulses. The generated baseline data are valuable for improving post-harvest handling, processing efficiency, and value addition of these nutritionally important crops in tribal areas.