Field testing of a rice crop postharvest management protocol for reduced postproduction losses and improved product quality
2018
Regalado, M.J.C. | Ramos, P.S.
An integrated rice crop postharvest management protocol can guide farmers and processors to reduce postproduction losses and achieve better product quality. Through inter-agency workshops, a protocol on critical operational checks and corresponding best management practices was drafted. Field experiments were conducted from 2014-2015 at PhilRice field experiment station to test protocol. Three rice cultivars were grown in a two hectare paddy yield. Crops were harvested a three different maturity stages using four harvest methods. Harvest losses were determined. Sun-drying on concrete pavement and mechanical flatbed drying were used. Storage methods included piling of dried paddy in 50-kg plastic sacks at ambient conditions on concrete floor (with and without plastic pallet underlay) and using hermetic cocoon or PhilRice SACLOB. Germination rates and storage losses were evaluated while laboratory test milling was done after six months. Results showed that harvest losses were less than 20% of yield crop when crops were harvested at physiological maturity using a combine harvester or by manual cutting and mechanical threshing on the same day. Highest germination rates, least storage losses, and higher milling recovery were attained with samples that were combine-harvested, flatbed-dried, and stored hermetically. The protocol is now ready for pilot-testing in farmer's fields and commercial rice mills.
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