1. Key Check 8. Cut and threshed the crop at the right time.
Harvest Management
Key Check 8.
Cut and threshed the crop at the right time.
Part 1: Understanding the PalayCheck System

2. Which banana would you like to eat?
An overripe banana will not satisfy you.
An underripe banana won’t either.
Rice is the same.

3. Harvest at the RIGHT TIME.
To be satisfied,
Harvest at the RIGHT TIME.
TOO EARLY
TOO LATE
Immature grains
Unfilled grains
Low milling recovery
Harvest LOSSES
Increased grain shattering
breakage during milling
Harvest LOSSES

4. Key Check 8 Cut and threshed the crop at the right time
Timely reaping, threshing and drying ensure good rice quality, high market value and consumer acceptance.
Untimely harvesting also makes the crop more prone to bird and rat damage, and lessens the quality of seeds harvested.

5. Remember: How to achieve Key Check 8?
Drain field 7-10 days before the expected date of harvesting
To attain uniform maturity/ripening
To prevent wetting of the grain during harvesting
For easy operation in the field

6. How to achieve Key Check 8?
ripened 1 2 3 4 5
Harvest when…
1/5 or 20% of the grains at the base of the panicle are at hard dough stage
Most of the grains in the panicle are golden yellow.
When grain moisture meter ticks 20-25% MC (WS) or 18-21% (DS)

7. TECHNIQUE
Assess hard dough stage by pressing a grain from the panicle base between the thumb and forefinger.
If milky liquid spurts out, palay is at milky grain stage

8. How MC can be determined?
TECHNIQUE
How MC can be determined?
Experienced farmers look at the color of the palay, feel the grain in their hands, and crack it with their teeth to determine whether the grain is more or less wet or dry.

9. REMEMBER:
Avoid piling the harvested crop in the field for more than a day to avoid grain discoloration and low-quality milled rice due to heat build up.

10. Threshing How to achieve Key Check 8?
Thresh palay not later than a day after harvesting (WS), not later than 2 days (DS)
Avoid threshing dripping wet palay using a mechanical thresher to prevent losses from poor grain cleaning & separation
Observe recommended threshing speed (800 rpm) to prevent grain damage

11. To avoid/minimize losses, observe:
RIGHT moisture content
RIGHT temperature
RIGHT maturity
Protect grains from:
Microorganisms and insects
Impurities
Mechanical stress

12. You have cut and threshed palay at the right time, IF…
Palay is harvested when most of the grains are golden yellow or 20% are in hard dough stage
Palay is threshed not later than a day after harvesting for WS and not later than 2 days for DS.

13. INPUT OUTPUT OUTCOME Right length of time for piling/ stacking
Harvesting at 80-85% grain maturity
Right length of time for piling/ stacking
Threshing at the right time and speed
Proper drying
Minimize shattering, unfilled grains
Prevents discolored and fissured grains
Prevents pest infestation and broken grains
GOOD grain quality (high milling recovery, high market value)

14. Key Check 8.
Cut and threshed the crop at the right time.

15. CREDITS
Instructional presentation designer: Ms. Ella Lois Bestil
Sources of technical content/reviewers of presentation:
Dr. Manny Regalado, Dr. Eulito Bautista, Engr. Artemio Vasallo, Dr. Josue Falla, Dr. Caesar Joventino Tado
Note:
Adapted from a powerpoint presentation developed by: Dr. Caesar Joventino Tado, Dr. Ricardo Orge
You may use, remix, tweak, For more information, visit:
& build upon this presentation non-commercially. However, always use with acknowledgment.
Unless otherwise stated, the names listed are PhilRice staffers.
Produced in 2011.
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