Determination of Physico-mechanical and Chemical Properties of Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] Grown in Türkiye

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the physico-mechanical and chemical properties in pecan. Pecan nuts were supplied from Serik district of Antalya province in the 2022–2023 production season. The values of length, width, thickness, shell thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, bulk density, true density and porosity of pecan were found to be 4% moisture content (d.b.) 43.94 mm, 22.27 mm, 20.45 mm, 1.11 mm, 27.14 mm, 61.82%, 441.05 kg m⁻³, 771.15 kg m⁻³ and 42.80%, respectively. The values of moisture, protein and crude oil of pecan kernel were determined to be 3.48%, 11.59% and 66.01%, respectively. The primary fatty acid component was found to be oleic acid, which accounted for 50.57% of the total. Macro-elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), micro-elements (Na, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B) and heavy metals (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se) were also detected in pecan kernels. As a result of the chemical analyses performed on pecans, it can be said that pecan is a very rich foodstuff in terms of nutritional values such as oil content, fatty acid components and minerals, etc., and can be easily used in diets. Moreover, the physico-mechanical results of this study can be applied to improve the harvesting and threshing stages, transport and storage processes, as well as to develop machines for pecan farming.