Harvest humidity effect on the rice grain quality (Oryza Sativa L.)

Abstract

The rice grain quality is determined by events that occur in the field and agribusiness. From their development, until when they are processed, the rice grains are exposed to the action of both abiotic and biotic factors, which affect their quality and can cause accelerated deterioration, depending on the number and intensity with which they act. The grain humidity is the most important factor, which must be controlled before and after harvest, since it determines the quality of the grain. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the grain moisture effect on the milling quality of 8 rice genotypes evaluated in the 2010 rainy season, at the “La Nona” Farm, located in the Jobal en Medio homestead, Píritu Municipality, Portuguesa State. The results suggested that the harvest moisture affected all the milling variables evaluated. Apositive correlation was found between harvest moisture and the husk percentage, bran and whole grain yield and a negative correlation between harvest moisture and white mass yield, percentage of husked grain and the grain appearance. The best performance in whole grain yield was observed with 20% and 22% harvest humidities. The results indicated that the grain humidity for the reception in plant established by the national agribusiness guarantee to obtain the highest indexes in milling yield.