Abstract

This study was conducted on ungrounded, grounded, long and short rice grains to determine the moisture content for storage. The rice samples were dried in an oven at 105°C; in this regard every sample was divided in 6 parts with equal volume. The moisture contents were measured in six different ways such as 1st part with 1 h interval, 2nd with 2 h, 3rd with 4 h, 4th with 6 h, 5th with 12 h and 6th part after 24 h. It is observed that an ungrounded grain sample with weight of 28.9 g showed in 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h moisture release 5.81, 7.82, 9.10, 9.62, 10.48, and 11.11% respectively. However, long grains weighing 44.86 g released moisture in 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 h as 4.41, 6.87, 8.76, 9.59, 10.63 and 11.39% respectively. While the short grains with weight of 45.68 g showed moisture release in the interval of 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h as 3.96, 6.17, 7.99, 8.76, 9.68 and 10.29% respectively. It is evident from the study that ungrounded grains may be stored for long time as the moisture is easily released from them and they may retain the quality as compared to grounded short grains.

Key words: Ungrounded, grounded, moisture content.