Investigating Cumin Uprooting Dynamics: The Roles of Taproot Properties and Soil Resistance

Sheng Tai, Zhong Tang (), Bin Li (), Shiguo Wang and Xiaohu Guo
Additional contact information
Sheng Tai: College of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Zhong Tang: College of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Bin Li: Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China
Shiguo Wang: Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China
Xiaohu Guo: College of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-32

Abstract: Cumin ( Cuminum cyminum L. cv.′Xin Ziran 1′), classified within an agricultural crop, necessitates uprooting as a critical harvesting process. In this paper, we tried to study the force dynamics behind direct cumin uprooting by developing mechanical models for field uprooting and taproot–soil friction. A mechanical model for cumin uprooting and a friction model between the cumin taproot and sandy loam soil were built. The coefficient of static friction was determined using laboratory experiments. Pull-out, tensile force, and field uprooting experiments were conducted to validate the model. The physical and mechanical properties of the taproot were also measured. DEM simulation was employed for pull-out analysis. The static coefficient of friction between the cumin taproot and sandy loam soil was found to be approximately 0.766. The mechanical model showed high precision (0.4% and 5% error rates). Measured taproot properties included 80.91% moisture content, 0.40 Poisson’s ratio, 15.95 MPa elastic modulus, 5.70 MPa shear modulus, and 3.49 MPa bending strength. A DEM simulation revealed agreement with experimental observations for maximum frictional resistance at pull-out. The minimum resistance was noted at the extraction angle of 60°. The developed mechanical model for cumin uprooting was satisfactory in accuracy. Overcoming initial soil resistance is the primary factor affecting pull-out force magnitude. The optimized extraction angle had the potential to decrease uprooting resistance, improving harvesting efficiency.

Keywords: cumin taproot; sandy loam soil; uprooting dynamic characteristics; DEM simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/940/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/940/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:9:p:940-:d:1642895

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().