Effect of Different Drying Methods on Quality Characteristics of Wheat Grains

Shakeel Ahmed Soomro; Shakeel Hussain Chattha; Bakhtawar Wagan; Kamil Fakhur Zaman; Ali Fakhar-e-Imam; Shamsa Niaz Ali; Aman Ali; Vinoth Kumar; Akbar Khan Mari; Zahir Muhammad Larik

Authors

Shakeel Ahmed Soomro Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Shakeel Hussain Chattha Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Bakhtawar Wagan Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Kamil Fakhur Zaman Department of Land and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Ali Fakhar-e-Imam Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Shamsa Niaz Ali Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Aman Ali Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Vinoth Kumar Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Akbar Khan Mari Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Zahir Muhammad Larik Department of Land and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan

Keywords:

Grain, Drying, Convective, Intermittent, Quality, Processing, Storage

Abstract

Wheat is one of the main staple cereals used worldwide, providing 50% of food energy and protein consumed globally. Drying, the oldest preservation technique used for agricultural products, is the removal of moisture to its certain desired requirement. The drying process aims to reduce the grain's moisture content for safe storage. The present study was carried out at the Department of Farm Structures and Postharvest Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan. Freshly harvested wheat grain varieties TD-1, Imdaad-2005, and Sindhu were collected from the Latif Experimental Farm, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. The wheat grain samples were subjected to three different drying methods i.e. sun drying, convective drying, and intermittent drying. Data in terms of quality for wheat grain was observed initially, and then after being subjected to different drying methods. The results revealed that moisture content, length, width, thickness, thousand kernel weight, weight loss, bulk density, germination, and drying rate for all wheat varieties decreased with respect to time in all drying methods. The results in terms of quality after drying were observed to be better for intermittent drying, followed by convective and sun drying. The farmers and grain processing industries are suggested to adopt the intermittent drying method, which enhances grain quality and reduces energy consumption.

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