<div><strong>Background: </strong>In pursuit of exploring gamma irradiation as a technology-intervention for de-husking of Kodo and Kutki millets grown widely, authors of this paper observed that irradiation leads to easy de-husking of hardest Kodo grains. Calibration for appropriate dose of irradiation is needed and hence, this study was planned. This technology, if established, may check millet farmers shifting to other crops.<br />
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<strong>Methods:</strong> Kodo and Kutki millets were irradiated by gamma radiations for doses of 0 kGy to 10 kGy. Water absorption capacity and germination potential of irradiated grains were measured to determine the dose for desired results.<br />
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<strong>Result: </strong>Water absorption and germination potential of Kodo and Kutki grains improved on irradiation; dose of 2.5 kGy and above resulted in an increase in the quantity of water absorbed and rate of water absorption. The germination also increased but registering maxima at 7.5 kGy for Kodo and 5.0 kGy for Kutki. Irradiation at doses higher than maxima caused decline. Thus, appropriate dose of irradiation was found to be 7.5 kGy for Kodo and 5 kGy for Kutki.</div>


<div>Effect of Radiation Processing on Water Absorption and Germination of Kodo and Kutki Millets</div>


<div style="text-align: justify;">India is the largest producer of many kinds of millets and most important minor millets in India are finger millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet and little millet. Threshing is based on the principle that, some impact is given on crops, the grains are separated from panicles, cobs and pods. The performance of the threshing unit with development of five different shapes of pegs for threshing Kutki (little millet). Kukti millet was evaluated with an average moisture content of 13.4% wet basis and pegs was tested at two different speeds 712 rpm and 1068 rpm. The use of disc shape peg at 1068 rpm in plot size thresher for little millet at 13% moisture content (wb) with highest threshing efficiency 99.67 % highest cleaning efficiency 98.64 %, moderate output capacity 20 kg/ha, unthreshed &nbsp;grain percentage and seed damage was found 0 %. is recommended in view of minimum cost requirement, timeliness of operation, low cost of operation was achieved.</div>

Effect of Radiation Processing on Water Absorption and Germination of Kodo and Kutki Millets

Development of threshing cylinder for small millets