ABSTRACT
The introduction of instrumentation capable of measuring
individual kernel properties has opened new vistas for
explaining rice-processing performance. In particular,
individual kernel moisture meters, dimensional imaging
equipment, and thermal property analyzers have allowed
rice lots to be quantified in terms of distributions that
represent not only the range of property values of kernels
within a bulk, but also the frequency of those values. This
is particularly beneficial in rice processing, as rice kernels
on panicles do not mature synchronously. Individual kernel
property distributions offer much more information than
any one average value, therefore providing a far better
explanation and understanding of processing behavior.
