2/28/2021 Measuring moisture content - IRRI Rice Knowledge Bank

Measuring moisture content

Moisture content (MC) is the weight of water contained in paddy or rice expressed in percent. MC is usually referred
to the wet basis meaning the total weight of the grain including the water (MCwb). For research moisture content
referred to the dry matter of the grain is sometimes used (MCdb).

Why is measuring the moisture content important?

Accurate moisture content testing is important in managing and

marketing paddy and rice because depending on the purpose rice has
different ideal moisture contents. Inaccurate moisture content
measurements lead to:

Extra drying cost and harvesting loss if paddy is harvested wetter

than necessary
Spoilage if the grain is too wet in storage
Extra drying cost and loss of quality if paddy is dried too far
Lower head rice when milled at wrong MC
Weight loss (loss in profit) if grain is sold too dry

How to measure moisture content

Moisture content of grain can be measured by using either:

primary method, based on weight measurements like the (a) oven method or an (b) infrared moisture balance
or
secondary method, using an electronic instrument that uses electrical characteristics of the grains.

Read: Moisture content formula and calculations

Read: Primary versus secondary method of measuring MC

Many different types of portable grain moisture meters can be used to measure the moisture content. When
selecting a meter, make sure it is suitable for harvesting paddy or milling grain, depending on which activity you are
doing.

Read: Types of portable moisture meters

in Harvesting
Higher moisture content results in more losses from poor grain quality; while, lower moisture content results in more
losses from shattering.

For measuring moisture content during harvesting, the most practical option is to use a resistance-type moisture
meter that gives quick results and only uses small samples.

The capacitive moisture meters are more expensive, require a larger sample, but are more accurate than resistance
type units.

in Drying
Grains need to be dried to below 14%, and seeds should be dried to below 12%.

Paddy should be dried to safe moisture content within 24 hours after harvesting to avoid damage and
deterioration. Improper drying and storage practices lead to low grain or seed quality.

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2/28/2021 Measuring moisture content - IRRI Rice Knowledge Bank

Read: What are the problems related to incomplete or untimely drying or storage of
paddy?

Table: Comparison of methods used in measuring moisture content for drying

in Storage
Grains should be dried to a certain moisture content (MC) depending on storage period to
avoid potential problems:

Storage period Required MC for safe storage Potential problems

weeks to a few months 14% or less molds, discoloration, respiration loss

insect damage, moisture adsorption

8–12 months 13% or less insect damage

storage of farmer's seeds 12% or less loss of germination

<1 year 9% or less loss of germination

A rule of thumb for seed is that the life of the seed will be halved for every 1% increase in moisture content or a 5°C increase in storage temperature.

in Milling
For milling, the ideal moisture content is between 13 and 14%.

Yield measurements also need to be corrected for a standardized moisture content of 14%.

The following table summarizes the target moisture content for each of the key postproduction operation:

Operation Desired moisture content Primary losses

Harvesting 20–25% shattering if grain is too dry

unfilled and many green grains if too wet

Threshing 20–25% for mechanical threshing incomplete threshing, grain damage, and
less than 20% for hand threshing cracking/breakage

Drying final moisture content is 14% or spoilage, fungal damage, discoloration

lower

Storage less than 14% for grain storage fungal, insect, and rat damage
than 12% for seed storage loss of vigor
less than 9% for long term seed loss of vigor
preservation

Milling 13–14% grain cracking and breakage

overmilling

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