Evaluation of Air Oven Moisture Content Determination Methods for Rough Rice

The effects of air oven drying temperature and drying duration on moisture content determination of medium grain rough rice were studied for moisture content levels from 10·2 to 32·5% (w.b.). Six different methods were compared in this study. A moisture content determination model for an air oven was developed to describe the effect of drying temperature, drying time, and sample grinding on moisture content determination. Drying whole kernels for 72 h at 105°C had the smallest standard deviation. Regression equations obtained from the measured data were used to validate the model developed in this study. This model could be employed to evaluate the moisture determination methods for other varieties of rough rice and other crops obtained from previous literature.     

中国稻谷干燥现状和稻谷干燥设备的开发

介绍了我国稻谷干燥技术和干燥设备的现状,重点探讨了稻谷干燥的特点,如低温、大风量和干燥后必须缓苏等。对稻谷干燥中的爆腰问题作了深入的分析,对影响稻谷品质的主要因素如干燥速率、缓苏时间和爆腰率的测定时间和方法进行了讨论。对进一步发展我国的稻谷干燥技术提出了建议。     

极低频脉冲电场与高压静电场对作物种子萌发影响的差异

为了明确基于极低频脉冲电场(pulsed electric field,PEF)的种子处理技术与基于高压静电场(highvoltage electrostatic field,HVEF)的种子处理技术的有效性及其差异,研究了极低频PEF和HVEF对绿豆生长的影响。结果表明,极低频PEF处理对绿豆幼苗的质量、芽长和根长都有明显的促进作用,相同强度的HVEF处理对绿豆幼苗的根长生长有一定促进作用,对芽长的影响不显著。机理研究显示,极低频PEF和HVEF处理均对萌发绿豆的氧化代谢和蛋白质代谢有一定影响,在种子萌发初期,极低频PEF处理促进了种子储藏蛋白的分解,在后期促进了新蛋白的合成,HVEF处理则对萌发后期的蛋白合成有一定促进作用。研究还发现,极低频PEF和HVEF均可通过诱发超氧阴离子自由基激活种子超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,促进过氧化物酶(POD)的合成,但是,极低频PEF对SOD和POD的影响大于HVEF。讨论了极低频PEF和HVEF对绿豆萌发影响差异的原因。     

优化高压电场处理对谷子种子萌发期内源激素的影响

为了探讨高压电场处理谷子种子内源激素含量动态变化对其萌发活力的调控影响,以农大八号谷子种子为试材,运用二次通用旋转组合设计与主成分分析相结合的方法,建模寻优。在优化电场处理条件下,研究种子萌发过程中内源激素含量动态变化。结果表明:高压电场处理谷子种子显著影响其萌发活力(P0.05);模型决定系数R2为0.979 2,表明模型拟合较好;模型耦合效应表明,高压电场处理谷子种子存在阈值效应,且电场强度影响效应大于处理时间;模型解析得到高压电场优化条件为电场强度340 k V/m,处理时间14 min。谷子种子萌发期内源激素含量动态变化结果表明,优化电场处理条件诱导吲哚乙酸(indole-3-acetic acid,IAA)、玉米素核苷(zeatin riboside,ZR)和赤霉素(gibberellin,GA)含量增加,抑制脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)含量增加;种子萌动前后,内源IAA、GA迅速上升、ABA快速下降,ZR在萌动时也达到极值,有利于胚根突破种皮,促进种子的萌动;GA/ABA、IAA/ABA、ZR/ABA比值处理均高于对照(未经电场处理),表明高压电场处理谷子种子后内源激素比值的变化是种子萌发活力提高的诱因,胚根达种子的2倍长后,GA/ABA、IAA/ABA比值都呈现增大趋势,表明幼苗生长与其调控密不可分。研究结果为高压电场技术处理种子在农业生产中的应用提供理论依据。     

高湿稻谷逐步升温干燥工艺试验研究

针对南方双季稻区高湿稻谷,对薄层谷粒的水分迁移过程进行动态跟踪,发现降速干燥过程具有明显的二段性。通过测定深层干燥中气流状态的变化过程,由热质衡算得出深层干燥特性曲线,研究了高湿稻谷深层干燥中的热质运动规律,结合稻谷爆腰率的变化规律,给出了合理的干燥工艺     

Infrared Drying Characteristics of Long‐Grain Hybrid,Long‐Grain Pureline,and Medium‐Grain Rice Cultivars

The objective for this study was to investigate the effectiveness of scaled‐up infrared (IR) heating followed by tempering steps to dry freshly harvested rough rice. An industrial‐type, pilot‐scale, IR heating system designed to dry rough rice was used in this study. The heating zone of the equipment had catalytic IR emitters that provided heat energy to the sample as it was conveyed on a vibrating belt. The sample comprised freshly harvested rough rice of long‐grain pureline (Cheniere), long‐grain hybrid (6XP 756), and medium‐grain (CL 271) cultivars at initial moisture contents of 23, 23.5, and 24% wb, respectively. Samples at a loading rate of 1.61 kg/m² were heated with IR of radiation intensity 5.55 kW/m² for 30, 50, 90, and 180 s followed by tempering at 60°C for 4 h, at a product‐to‐emitter‐gap size of 450 mm, in one‐ and two‐pass drying operations. Control samples were gently natural air dried in an equilibrium moisture content chamber set at relative humidity of 65% and temperature of 26°C to moisture content of 12.5% wb. The effects of IR treatments followed by tempering on percentage points of moisture removed, head rice yield, energy use, rice color, and pasting characteristics were evaluated. For all cultivars, percentage point moisture removed increased with increase in IR drying duration. For all rice cultivars, one‐pass IR treatments for 180 s resulted in head rice yield significantly lower than that of rice dried with natural air in the controlled‐environment conditions (P < 0.05). Energy required to dry rice increased with increase in drying duration. Viscosity values of all the experimental samples were significantly greater (P value < 0.05) than that of the control samples for all the cultivars, except those treated with IR for 180 s. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the color index (ΔE ) of treated milled samples and the controls. In conclusion, the study provided information crucial to understanding the effects of scaled‐up radiant heating and tempering of rough rice on drying rates and rice quality for long‐grain pureline, long‐grain hybrid, and medium‐grain rice cultivars.     

Surface Lipid and Free Fatty Acids (FFA) Content of Head and Broken Rice Produced by Milling After Different Drying Treatments

The surface lipids and free fatty acids (FFA) content of head and broken rice samples generated through milling after various drying treatments were studied. Long grain cultivars Francis, Wells, and Cypress, and medium grain cultivar Bengal were dried under three air conditions (mild 25°C, 50% rh; moderate 45°C, 40% rh; and stressed 65°C, 20% rh) for two durations (10 and 30 min). Immediately after drying, the rough rice samples were placed in a conditioning chamber to continue drying slowly to ⋍12.5% moisture content (MC), which occurred within three to five days. After dehulling, a McGill No. 2 mill was used to mill the samples for 30 sec. The head rice yield (HRY) for all rice samples were within the range of 40–68%. Rice surface lipid was extracted with isopropanol (IPA) and the lipid and FFA content of the IPA extracts were determined. Broken rice kernels had significantly greater surface lipid and FFA content than head rice kernels. The surface FFA contents of broken kernels were within the range of 0.045–0.065% of broken rice mass, while that of head rice was 0.027–0.040%. Broken ricehad greater b values indicating greater yellow color than did head rice.     

优化高压电场处理提高高粱种子活力

为了探讨高压电场处理对高粱种子萌发活力的影响,以晋杂122#高粱种子为试材,采用种子发芽试验、生物化学分析及二次通用旋转组合设计相结合的方法,研究电场强度和处理时间对高粱种子的活力指数和内源赤霉素(gibberellin,GA)含量的影响,通过建模分析,寻求高压电场处理条件的优化方案。结果表明:不同高压电场(high voltage electric field,HVEF)处理对高粱种子活力指数和内源GA含量影响均达到显著水平(P0.05);二因素对高粱种子的活力指数和内源GA含量影响效应顺序为电场强度处理时间;电场强度和处理时间对高粱种子活力指数和内源GA含量影响有阈值效应;二因素耦合效应对高粱种子的活力指数的影响呈现负交互效应,对内源GA含量的影响表现出正交互效应,且交互效应显著(P0.05),二因素交互作用对内源GA含量影响大于对种子活力的影响;经模型寻优,同时满足活力指数≥14.25、内源GA质量分数≥11.55 ng/g的优化方案为:电场强度485.53~605.38 k V/m,处理时间31.41~48.99 min,在此基础上,进一步确定优化条件为:电场强度500 k V/m,处理时间36 min,经试验验证,高粱种子活力指数和内源GA质量分数理论值15.50、14.92 ng/g,与实测值(15.38±0.18)、(14.85±0.13)ng/g基本一致,进一步验证了方案的可靠性。研究结果为高压电场技术处理种子在农业生产中的应用提供理论依据。     

磁场对稻谷干燥特性的影响

针对稻谷的传统干燥过程存在能量消耗大,发芽率低和爆腰率高等缺点,把磁场引入稻谷干燥过程中,能快速而经济地降低稻谷的水分并保持其良好品质。采用永磁场强化稻谷的干燥过程,比较干燥时间、发芽率和爆腰率的变化。结果表明：在相同功率下稻谷在磁场中干燥时间比无磁场时缩短5％,平均失水速率加大,稻谷的发芽率有所升高、爆腰率下降;随着干燥功率的增加,磁场对稻谷的发芽率和爆腰率的影响加大。在试验基础上探讨了磁场对稻谷干燥过程的影响机理。     

PH—Postharvest Technology: The Effects of Grain Temperature on Breakage Susceptibility in Maize

To understand the viscoelastic characteristics (i.e. hardness) of the maize (Zea Mays L.) grain in relation to high-temperature drying, a breakage tester (HT-I drop tester) was developed and single-grain breakage at various grain temperatures and times after drying was determined. Both hard and soft maize hybrid varieties had minimal breakage at high grain temperatures (78–110°C), while decreasing grain temperature increased breakage exponentially. After drying at both 60 and 120°C, the percentage breakage measured at ambient temperature increased rapidly during cooling in air at an ambient temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity in the range 65–70%. Breakage reached a maximum after about 10 min from the start of cooling. A Mitscherlich function described the chronological development of percent grain breakage. Analysis of the function parameters for the extent (maximum) and rate of breakage indicated that there was a significant interaction between variety and drying temperature for the development of grain breakage after drying. These results indicated that grain temperature should be considered as a co-factor when assessing grain breakage susceptibility.     

Relationship of Kernel Moisture Content Gradients and Glass Transition Temperatures to Head Rice Yield

The relationship of glass transition temperature T_g and moisture content (MC) gradient of rice kernels to head rice yield (HRY) variation was investigated. Mathematical models describing heat and moisture transfer inside rice kernels during drying were developed and solved using the finite element method. Moisture distributions inside a kernel were simulated and verified using thin-layer drying experiments, and the intra-kernel MC gradients during drying were accordingly determined and analysed. Results showed that in the glassy region, rice did not incur measurable HRY reduction after drying. However, when rice was dried in the rubbery region and then cooled down immediately without being tempered following drying, HRY decreased markedly after MC gradients exceeded certain levels. It was found in this study that the time when the percentage point of moisture removal reached a maximally allowable level before HRY decreased dramatically coincided with the time at which the curve of kernel MC gradients versus drying duration reached its peak. Such a relation was verified with the HRY data of two varieties (Cypress and M202) as measured in this study and cited from literature. The HRY trends for these two varieties were well explained through the behaviour of glass transition and MC gradients of rice.     

Nutraceutical Concentrations within the Bran of Various Rice Kernel Thickness Fractions

Several important nutraceutical compounds, such as tocotrienols, tocopherols, and oryzanols, can be extracted from rice bran, a by-product of milling. This study was conducted to not only provide information regarding nutraceutical concentrations within the rice kernel based on bran collected from successive milling, but also to determine levels of nutraceutical concentrations across several different thickness fractions. Nutraceutical compounds were measured in the bran from two long-grain rice varieties, Cypress and Drew. Rough rice was separated into three thickness fractions (<1·84, 1·84–1·98, and >1·98 mm) and each fraction milled for three successive 10 s milling durations. Bran was collected from each milling duration of each thickness fraction to allow quantification of the nutraceutical content. Results showed that bran collected from rice milled for longer durations (30 s) had lower levels of tocotrienols and tocopherols compared to bran from shorter milling durations (10 s). The highest concentration of oryzanols was in the rice bran from the first 10 s milling duration. Overall, compared to bran from thinner kernels (<1·84 mm), the bran from thicker kernel fractions contained a higher content of nutraceuticals.     

轴流式和切流式机械脱粒对稻谷损伤及加工品质的影响

为确定不同机械脱粒滚筒收获方式对收获后稻谷品质性状的影响,以手工收获方式稻谷为对照组,对轴流式和切流式脱粒滚筒收获方式收获稻谷的品质性状进行研究,检测不同收获方式稻谷的裂纹率、裂颖率、发芽率、幼苗生长、腹部与背部作为承压面糙米的三点弯曲破碎力、加工品质指标等。测试结果表明:机械脱粒方式收获稻谷与手工收获方式相比,裂颖率增加,发芽和幼苗生长、三点弯曲破碎力和加工品质降低,其中裂颖率最大增加约35.6%,发芽率降低最大达53%,茎秆长度最大降低15 mm,根数量最大降低2.4个,腹部和背部三点弯曲破碎力减小最大值为4.5和3.8 N,整精米率最大降低12.11%;而切流式脱粒滚筒收获方式收获稻谷与轴流式相比,裂颖率较大,发芽率降低达34%~51%,茎杆长度降低最大达12.6 mm,根数量降低最大达1.8个,腹部和背部三点弯曲破碎力差异较小,整精米率降低10.38%。总体来说不同机械脱粒收获方式对稻谷的品质性状影响具有差异性,轴流式脱粒收获方式对稻谷的机械损伤小于切流式脱粒收获方式,机械脱粒损伤稻谷品质性状的评价应该根据稻谷具体使用目的进行客观全面的评价。     

Maize Starch Yield Calibrations with Near Infrared Reflectance

Maize starch yield is affected by variety, environmental growing conditions, and drying conditions. One-hundred gram starch yield tests that predict actual wet milling starch yield were used as a reference method for developing an extractable starch calibration on a NIRSystems Model 6500 spectrophotometer. A maize starch yield calibration was developed from 940 samples and used to predict a validation set of 304 samples. It had a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 1·06, a coefficient of determination r² of 0·77 and a ratio of performance to deviations (rpd) of 2·1. This indicates about 95% of similar samples could have starch yield predicted by near-infrared reflectance within about±2·1%. The calibration should be successful in segregating maize lots for high and low starch yield percentages.     

Shrinkage Evaluation of Five Different Varieties of Coffee Berries during the Drying Process

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of moisture content variation on reduction of superficial area, volume and equivalent sphere diameter of coffee berries. Four varieties of Coffea arabica (cv Catuaí Vermelho, Catuaí Amarelo, Mundo Novo and Catimor) and one variety of Coffea canephora (cv Conilon) were used. From the results obtained, it was concluded that moisture content in the coffee berries affects its physical properties causing significant decrease of the superficial area, volume and diameter of the equivalent sphere during a drying process. The varieties of coffee had different shrinkage behaviour. The Conilon coffee had the highest level of berry shrinkage, the volume decreased 35% during the drying process from 1·38 to 0·12 dry basis (d.b.) berry moisture content. The shrinkage behaviour during the drying process was well explained by a polynomial model with coefficient of determination greater than 90%.     

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Water Hyacinth Chopper cum Crusher

A water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) chopper cum crusher was developed at College of Technology and Engineering, Udaipur, India to solve the problem of the bulk of freshly harvested water hyacinth during transportation. The performance of the chopper cum crusher was evaluated on the basis of its ability to reduce volume and weight of fresh water hyacinth. Two variables namely feed rate and knife speeds were studied. Relationships were developed between changes in specific volume, knife speed; percent weight loss and feed rates. Weight reduction studies showed that, with the increase in feed rate and knife speed, there was a decrease in weight loss. Maximum weight loss of 33·77% was achieved with the minimum feed rate of 1·0 t h⁻¹ and knife speed of 3·14 m s⁻¹. Regression models were developed to fit the data. The developed machine reduced the specific volume and weight of fresh water hyacinth by up to 64 and 31·54%, respectively, at the recommended feed rate of 1·0 t h⁻¹ and knife speed of 4·71 m s⁻¹.     

Effect of Milling Temperature and Postmilling Cooling Procedures on Rice Milling Quality Appraisals

The objective of this research was to study the effects of different milling conditions and postmilling handling procedures on appraised milling quality of rough rice. Rough rice (M202) with moisture content of 11.5 ± 0.2% was used for this study. The samples were milled with a McGill number 3 mill under four milling conditions, including normal milling, milling at high temperature, milling with cooling using ice water, and room temperature water. The milled rice samples were cooled in closed and open plastic containers and in open pans with three temperatures: 15, 23, and 35°C. The effects of milling and postmilling conditions on milled rice temperature, moisture loss, cooling rate, single and multiple fissuring rates, total rice yield (TRY), head rice yield (HRY), whiteness index (WI), and total lipid content (TLC) were evaluated. Results showed that high single and multiple fissuring rates and low TRY and HRY were inherent in improper milling and postmilling conditions. Single fissuring rates were 15.9 and 17.6% and multiple fissuring rates were 3.5 and 7.2% for rice samples milled under normal and high‐temperature conditions, respectively. Cooling methods that used open containers and pans had more moisture losses and further resulted in lowering appraised milling quality than methods that used closed containers. Low‐temperature milling conditions followed by cooling in closed containers significantly reduced single and multiple fissuring rates and improved TRY and HRY by 0.9 and 1.5 percentage points, respectively. The effects of tested milling and postmilling conditions on WI and TLC were not significant. Obtained results constitute valuable information for developing milling and cooling procedures to achieve consistent, accurate, and reliable milling quality appraisals for rough rice.     

Suppressive effect of rice bran incorporation in paddy soil on germination of Monochoria vaginalis and its relationship with electric conductivity

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate (1) the effects of the addition of rice (Oryza sativa. L.) bran to paddy soil on the germination of Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) Kunth, and (2) the relationship between the electric conductivity (EC) of the soil solution and germination. Soil samples were collected at 4 sites in Japan. After flooded soils with rice bran had been incubated for 7?d at 30°C, the soil solution was collected using a porous cup and the EC of the soil solution was measured. The amounts of rice bran added to the soil were 0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% (weight(w)/w). In the soil solution obtained, seeds of M. vaginalis were incubated for 3?d at 30°C, and the germination percentage was then analyzed. The addition of rice bran suppressed germination, and the degree of suppression increased with increasing content of rice bran. Although the same amount of rice bran was applied to each soil, the degree of growth suppression by rice bran as well as the EC of the soil solution differed among the soils. In each soil, there was a positive correlation between the amount of rice bran and EC, and the degree of growth suppression significantly increased with an increase in EC. When EC was higher than 150?mS?m^?1, seeds of M. vaginalis hardly germinated. There was no significant correlation between the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) of soil and seed germination, suggesting that EC is a more reliable and convenient indicator than Eh for evaluating the relationship between the addition of organic material and seed germination. In conclusion, the addition of rice bran to soil increases the EC of the soil solution, and EC is one of the factors that suppress the germination of M. vaginalis. The suppressive effect of rice bran on germination is different among soils. This fact is attributed to the difference in EC due to the addition of rice bran. Thus, it is expected that EC can be used as an indicator for determining how much rice bran to add.     

Effect of Rice Blast and Sheath Blight on Physical Properties of Selected Rice Cultivars

Observations in 1997 indicated a significant reduction in kernel bulk density and head rice yield of rice cultivar LaGrue due to blast (Pyricularia grisea). A more detailed study on rice cultivar M202 in 1998 confirmed such observations but it also showed negative effects of blast on other physical properties of rice. Rough rice from blast‐infected panicles was drier by 7–10 percentage points and 10% thinner than rough rice from blast‐free panicles. Blast also caused incidences of chalky, unfilled, and fissured kernels that were 21, 30, and 7 percentage points higher, respectively. The effects of sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani) on kernel thickness and moisture content of rice cultivars Cocodrie, Cypress, Drew, and LaGrue were similar to the effect of blast on M202. Sheath blight generally reduced kernel bulk density but did not significantly affect head rice yield of the cultivars in 1997 and 1998 (except in one sample of Drew). There was a general trend toward higher incidences of unfilled, chalky, and fissured kernels in sheath‐blight‐infected samples. The data indicated that blast could be a significant preharvest factor in causing high variability in physical properties as well as in reducing the milling quality of rice. Sheath blight is also a potentially significant preharvest factor in affecting these properties in situations where sheath blight pressure is high.     

稻谷种子安全干燥温度模型研究

以稻谷干燥时的活力退化动力学方程为基础，结合稻谷玻璃化转变理论建立了稻谷种子安全干燥温度模型。并通过稻谷种子的发芽率试验确定了种子安全干燥温度模型方程的系数。数学模拟结果表明，稻谷干燥过程中随着水分的降低，种子安全干燥温度曲线存在一个最低点；依据稻谷初始含水率由高到低，其最低安全干燥温度由低到高，而且种子通过最低安全干燥温度曲线最低点以后所能承受的温度则有所提高；当稻谷初始含水率低于13%(w.b.)时，种子安全干燥温度曲线后半段近似为一直线，不再有拐点（最低点）。论文最后提出了稻谷种子安全干燥温度和操作工艺，以及选择种子安全干燥温度时应注意的问题。