INFLUENCE OF THE POSTHARVEST OPERATIONS ON THE MILLING QUALITY OF RICE

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of various post-harvest operations on the milling quality of rice (Oryza sativa L). The threshing and the rapid drying of the produce to 13% moisture by oven or in the sun produced the optimal head yields. The field drying alone and the field drying and subsequent stacking caused a considerable decrease in the head yield due to the development of grain fissures. This was apparent from the milling tests where the percentage of the broken grains increased in the crops left in the field stacked before the threshing and drying Thus by avolding field drying and stacking, the deterioration in grain quality could be avoided.