Varietal characteristics of corn for optimum shelling [Philippines]
1987
Tec, A.B. Jr.
The government is doing its best to increase the corn production and make a success in the expanded yellow corn program. Therefore, the best technology available should be adopted and the most effective post-production operations be used. In terms of corn shelling, there is a need to identify the characteristics of the most popular varieties for optimum shelling. Three popular corn varieties and their characteristics namely; ear size, kernel to corn ear weight ratio and moisture content, were the parameters used in the tests for optimum shelling. Corn samples were shelled at seven different levels of moisture content using the AMDP [Agricultural Mechanization Development Program; Philippines] CS-3 corn sheller. The effect of the above characteristics on shelling performance and fuel consumption was investigated. Tests showed that the different sizes of corn ears, and kernel to corn ear weight ratio of the three varieties did not significantly affect any of the dependent variables namely; shelling capacity, shelling efficiency, fuel consumption, damaged grains and grain losses. This can be attributed to the fact that the UPLB CS-3 corn sheller was designed to shell all sizes of corn ears with high shelling performance. The only independent variable that significantly affected almost all of the dependent variable was moisture content. The optimum shelling performance was obtained at the lowest moisture content level. However, at this moisture content level the percentage of cracked and broken grains was greater than at high moisture content level. The different varieties varied significantly in shelling efficiency, cracked grain, broken grain, unshelled loss and blower loss percentages with respect to the effect of moisture content.
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