Grain Loss during Hand Harvesting in the Rice Cultivation in Kedah, West Malaysia

Abstract

The studies on the grain loss during harvesting for Padi Bahagia were conducted in the Kedah State, West Malaysia, in 1969/70 and 1970/71. The grain loss during different harvesting processes was the highest at threshing, followed by cutting and gathering. The total grain loss during harvesting at 27 days, 34 days and 41 days after heading were 1.57%, 2.79% and 3.14%, respectively. The filled grain recovery was the highest at 34 days after heading. From these results, a harvesting at around 34 days after heading appears to be optimum. At an earlier harvesting time the yield is lowered due to the poor maturity of the grains and at a later harvesting time the yield is also lowered by the loss due to from over-ripening and lodging. The method of threshing should be improved because much of the grain loss occurs in this process.