DEHULLING CHARACTERISTICS OF OAT (OL-9 VARIETY) AS AFFECTED BY GRAIN MOISTURE CONTENT

Jaspreet Kaur, Amarjeet Kaur, Poonam Aggarwal

Abstract: Dehulling of oat is difficult and inefficient process. Moisture content of grains is one of the most important factors that affects dehulling. Dehulling parameters of oat grains (OL-9) were studied by varying grain moisture contents at 10, 13, 16 and 19, percent. Dehulling was achieved using an indigenously developed small scale impact oat dehuller. Groat recovery (%) and dehulling efficiency (DHE) significantly (P=0.05) increased as grain moisture was increased from 10 to 16 percent. However, broken content (%) significantly (P=0.05) decreased as grain moisture was increased from 10 to 19 percent. Hence, 16 per cent grain moisture was considered optimum for impact dehulling of oat grains. Second order regression equations were developed to help relate grain moisture to various dehulling parameters.

Keywords: Oat, Dehulling efficiency, Groat recovery, Broken, Regression

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0309015