Effect of final moisture content, cooling time and paddy variety on milling quality of rice (Oryza sativa, L.)

Abstract

The study was carried out to establish the effects of three factors -final moisture content (FMC), shade-cooling time (CT) and paddy variety on rice milling quality. Paddy was sun dried to final moisture contents ranging from 9.0 to 15.5% (on wet basis) and shade-cooled for 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h at ambient temperature (27.20 to 35.10 o C). Five paddy varieties, TXD 88, TXD 306, SUPA, IRRITA 1, and IRRITA 2 were studied. The milling tests were carried out using a laboratory rice mill. Latin square design with 5 replications (5x5 orders) was used. Physical properties and milling quality in terms of total rice yield (TRY), head rice yield (HRY) and whiteness index (WI) were analyzed. The physical properties differed significantly (P<0.05) among varieties. SUPA had good size, shape and chalkiness whereas TXD 88 had poor quality for all these parameters. IRRITA 1 and IRRITA 2 produced higher TRY compared to other tested varieties. TXD 88 had higher whiteness index but lower HRY compared to other tested varieties. Higher yields, which were significantly different for TRY and HRY (P<0.05) were obtained at moisture content between 9.0 to 12.5% for TRY, but between 10.5 to 14.0% for HRY