Development of On-farm Storage Technique for Rice at Temperature below Ice Point Using Ambient Naturally Cold Air in Winter

Abstract

The objective of this project was to develop a new on-farm storage technique for rice at a temperature below ice point using ambient naturally cold air in winter. In an on-farm storage experiment, 994 tons of rough rice was stored in two silos from the end of November 1999, and the rough rice was aerated from the bottom to the top of each silo for 91 hours in January 2000. The rough rice temperature in each silo fell down below ice point (minus 1.5 degrees Celsius on average). At the end of storage (end of July 2000), the temperature of rice grains in the center of each silo was kept still below ice point (minus 0.5 degrees Celsius). The quality of the rice stored in the silos was thereby preserved at a level similar to that of freshly harvested rice. A combination of rice storage at a temperature below ice point and utilization of ambient cold air in winter enables the quality of rice to be preserved at a high level without the requirement of a cooling unit or electricity.