Course:Grain Quality

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Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 1 How do operations of a farm
affect quality?
SEED TO SEED CYCLE
2
Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 2 Selection of varietys affect
quality
CONSIDERATIONS RICE VARIETY SELECTION
3
Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 3 Three requirements of good
crop management
REQUIREMENTS GOOD CROP MANAGEMENT

• Water Management
• To manage water, fields must be level and bunds
  or levees maintained. Uniform water depth across
  the field will contribute to
• a more uniform crop
• higher grain yields
• consistent moisture content in the grain

Building bunds.
4
Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 3 Three requirements of good
crop management
REQUIREMENTS GOOD CROP MANAGEMENT
Nutrient Management The right application
levels of suitable fertilizers for the variety
and growing conditions is essential. Prudent
application of nitrogen is essential to get an
evenly maturing crop with full grain size and
high protein levels. NOTE Excessive or uneven
application of nitrogen can stimulate late tiller
production which results in heads on the main
culm ripening a number of days faster than the
tillers. This results in more immature and green
heads as well as higher moisture content that
increases the chance of fissuring and spoilage.
Conversely insufficient nitrogen can lead to
reduced grain size and protein content.
Farmers using the Leaf Color Chart (LCC) for
determining appropriate Nitrogen application.
5
Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 3 Three requirements of good
crop management
REQUIREMENTS GOOD CROP MANAGEMENT

• Planting
• Establishing the correct plant population during
  planting is essential to maximize
• Water efficiency
• Nutrient efficiency

Appropriate plant density is essential to
maximizing a variety's yield potential.
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Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 3 Three requirements of good
crop management
REQUIREMENTS GOOD CROP MANAGEMENT
If Then
the plant population is too low, the yield and quality of the variety can be reduced due to increased tillering which increases variation in panicle maturity. increased weed populations.
the plant population is too high, the yield and quality of the variety can be reduced due to competition for water and nutrients, resulting in reduced grain size. mutual shading resulting in reduced photosynthesis. lodging (falling over of the plant).
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Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 4 Harvesting timing and
threshing
A farmer carrying his harvest in Ninh Binh
province, Vietnam.
If Then
harvesting is too early, there will be many immature grains that will reduce head rice yield and quality. Further, these immature rice kernels are very slender and chalky and will result in excessive amounts of bran and broken grains.
harvesting is too late, many grains are lost due to shattering or drying-out and are cracked during threshing. Cracked grains break during milling.
moisture content is allowed to vary, grain fissuring (cracking) can occur, along with spoilage through yellowing and the development of odors.
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Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 4 Harvesting timing and
threshing
Farmer threshing rice panicles in the field.
Settings Value
Drum speed Drum tip speeds for a peg tooth thresher should be 12-16m/sec, or approximately 600rpm. Higher speeds result in higher levels of grain damage while lower speeds increase the amount of grain retained in the panicle.
Fan speed 800-850rpm
Sieve oscillation speed 800-850rpm
Clearance between peg teeth and concave 25mm
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Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 5 The importance of clean paddy

• Why is clean paddy rice important?
• has a higher value than grain that is
  contaminated with straws, chaff, weed seeds,
  soil, rubbish, and other non-grain materials
• improves the storability of grain
• reduces price penalties at the time of milling
• improves milling output and quality.

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Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 5 The importance of clean paddy
WINNOWING
CLEANING GRAIN MECHANICALLY
Winnowing (100 kg to 3 tonnes per hour) is an
important technique for cleaning grain at the
farm level. If there is not enough wind, simple
electric air fans can be used to separate lighter
materials from the grain.
A mechanical seed cleaner, capable of cleaning
10-30 tonnes per hour.
11
Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 6 The correct moisture content
for storage
SUNDRYING
Wet spots in the grain due to uneven drying or
weed seeds can lead to off odors and
discoloration of the grain.
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Course Grain Quality Module 2 Seed to Seed
Quality Lesson 7 The correct storage for paddy
STORAGE METHODS
Traditional
Hermetic
Farmers often store seed and grain in claypots or
woven plastic bags. Grain stored under these
conditions is often exposed to moisture
fluctuation, insects and rodents.
Recycled oil drums and PVC containers can be used
as low-cost sealed storage devices for paddy seed
and grain.