Post-Harvest Technology:
Harvesting:
For paddy, harvesting refers to the cutting and gathering of panicles attached to the stalks.
Harvesting at the right time and in the right way maximizes grain yield and minimizes grain
losses and quality deterioration.
Once the plants have reached full growth (approximately three months after planting) and the
grains begin to ripen-the tops begin to droop and the stem yellows-the water is drained from
the fields.
As the fields dry, the grains ripen further and harvesting is commenced
Stage of harvest:
Many factors must be considered to obtain optimum rice harvest.
The grain must be mature, high in quality and have proper moisture content.
Field should be sufficiently dry to support harvesting and transport.
Timely harvesting ensures good grain quality, high market value and improved
consumer acceptance.
The right stage for harvesting is when about 80% panicles have 80 % ripened spike
lets and their upper portion is straw colored. The grain contains about 20% of
moisture.
Rice should be harvested when the grains on lower part of the panicle are in hard
dough stage.
Maturity may be hastened by 3-4 days by spraying 20 % NaCl a week before harvest
to escape monsoon rains
Harvesting methods:
Depending on the size of the operation and the amount of mechanization, rice is either
harvested by hand or machine. The different harvesting systems are as follows:
Manual harvesting
manual harvesting makes use of traditional threshing tools such as threshing racks, simple
treadle threshers and animals for trampling or by hand using sharp knives or sickles. Gives
55-60 % grain recovery
Depending on the size of the operation and the amount of mechanization, rice is either
harvested by hand or machine. The different harvesting systems are as follows:
Manual harvesting and machine threshing
Rice is manually threshed, then cleaned with a machine thresher.
Machine reaping and machine threshing
A reaper cuts and lays the crop in a line. Threshing and cleaning can then be performed
manually or by machine.
Combine harvesting
the combine harvester combines all operations from paddy harvesting to rice extraction -
cutting, handling, threshing and cleaning. Gives 50 % recovery
Average yield:
A well-managed crop of mid-late duration varieties yield about 60-70 quintals/ ha.
Short duration varieties yield about 45-55 quintals.
About 40-60 quintals/ ha of fodder also becomes available per season
Post-Harvest Technologies :
Threshing :
Threshing is the process of beating paddy plants in order to separate the seeds or grains from
the straw.
To maintain the high quality of the harvested grains, it should be threshed immediately after
harvesting.
Avoid field drying and stacking for several days as it affects grain quality due to over drying.
Stacked grains of high moisture content results in discoloration or yellowing
Threshing can be done manually or mechanically
Manual threshing :
The manual methods of threshing are treading by feet, flail method, and beating stalks against
tubs, boards or racks.
Threshing can be done by trampling using bullocks, rubbing with bare human feet (in hills) or
lifting the bundles and striking them on the raised wooden platform.
Pedal threshers are also used.
Freshly threshed rice must be dried well in the sun.