Dry Matter Loss for Hybrid Rough Rice Stored Under Reduced‐Oxygen Conditions

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to characterize dry matter loss of hybrid long‐grain rough rice during storage under reduced‐oxygen conditions and develop a new approach to predict the dry matter loss by using storage temperature and relative humidity data as input. Two long‐grain hybrid rice cultivars, CL XL745 and XL760, harvested in the year 2015 were stored in rough‐rice form in sealed glass jars at moisture contents of 12.5, 16, 19, and 21%, (wet basis) and temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 27, and 40°C for a total of 16 weeks, with samples taken at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 weeks of storage. Results revealed no differences in dry matter loss connected with the rough‐rice moisture content levels and temperature during the storage duration. However, the dry matter loss was statistically different based on rough‐rice cultivar. Experimental data were fitted to a dry matter loss equation for long‐grain rice found in literature. The dry matter loss equation developed for conditions of grain storage without oxygen limitation did not accurately predict rough‐rice dry matter loss under reduced‐oxygen conditions. Equation constants generated for reduced‐oxygen storage conditions were significantly lower than the typical constants used for long‐grain rice in literature. Hence, integration of rice cultivar and storage conditions such as oxygen supply is crucial for accurate determination of kinetics of dry matter loss during storage of hybrid long‐grain rough rice.