Marquez, Shannen Lauren O.

August 25, 2015

2013-08468
1, 2015

September

EXERCISE No. 2
Dockage Determination and Thickness Grading

I.
INTRODUCTION
Dockage refers to the materials other than paddy, which may include impurities such as
stones, rice straws, or stalks (IRRI). These impurities can be removed through sieves or other
cleaning devices. It may also include underdeveloped and shriveled kernels that are hard to
remove even with recleaning and/or rescreening.
It is important to determine dockage to: 1) protect processing equipments; 2) separate
the unripe and underdeveloped grains; 3) be able to mill the grain lots separately; and 4) be
able to adjust the hullers more precisely for minimum grain breakage in milling. Also, if the
paddy rice contains so much of these impurities, the time it would take to clean and process
the grain increases, and the milling recoveries and the quality of rice reduces (IRRI).
The difference in thickness between mature and immature paddy can be considered. A
1.75 mm slotted sieve is used for Philippine varieties for this purpose.
Generally, after harvesting paddy, it contains impurities and contaminations. Separating
the impurities and grading is significant in order to improve the quality of rice along with its
safe storage.
The objectives for this exercise are for us to:
1) Determine the dockage for the working sample to be given to us following the
provided methods;
2) Grade the paddy according to its thickness; and
3) Determine the relationship of impurities in terms of operation and maintenance of
drying and milling equipment.
II.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The materials and equipments used in this exercise were the Bates laboratory
aspirator, assorted sieves (4/64, 6/64 and 12/64), 1.75 mm slotted sieve which is the
average thickness of grains in the Philippines, digital weighing scale, and a working sample
of 1500 grams of unclean paddy.
For the methods, the composite sample of paddy to be tested was gathered. We
divided the sample into 500 gram samples. And with the aid of the assorted sieves, we
separated the impurities. For separating the large impurities, a 12/64 sieve was used. While
for separating the small impurities, a 4/64 and 6/64 sieves were used. These separations
using the assorted sieves were done 3 times. In using these sieves to separate the
impurities, we moved it from left to right using a sifting motion. Then, the light impurities
were separated using the Bates aspirator. Using the same sample, the immature grains were
separated from the mature grains using a 1.75 mm slotted sieve. After these steps, percent
impurities, percent purity, percent mature grains, and percent immature grains were
calculated.
III.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 and 2 below shows the average data for dockage determination and thickness
grading, respectively. As observed, the sample has a percentage of purity of 86.27%.
Since the sample is 500g, on the average, total impurities only accounts to 68.67g while
the total purity is 431.33. The sample also has a high percentage of mature grains which
is 84.08% on the average. From the 500g sample less the impurities, 420.41g are mature
grains.

Table 1. Average Data for Dockage Determination

Large
Small
Light
Impurities
Impurities
Materials
Avera Straws, etc
Seed, Chaffs, Husks, Dust,
ge
etc
Empty
Kernels
Gram
%
Gram
%
Gram
%
s
s
s
5.54
1.108 4.80
0.96
58.33 11.67

Table 2. Average Data for Thickness Grading

IMMATURE GRAINS
Grams
%
Average
9.03
1.81

Total
Impurities

Purity

Gram
s
68.67

Gram
s
431.3
3

%
13.73

%
86.27

MATURE GRAINS
Grams
%
420.41
84.08

Table 3. Grade Requirements for Paddy

GRADING FACTORS
GRADE
PREMIUM
:
1:2:3
Purity (Min%)
98.00:
95.00:
90.00:
85.00
Foreign Matter (Max %)
2.00: 5.00: 10.00: 15.00
a) Weed Seeds and other Crop seeds 0.10: 0.10: 0.25: 0.50
(Max %)
b) Other Foreign Matters
1.90: 4.90: 9.75: 14.50
Defectives:
Chalky & Immature Kernels (Max. %) 2.00: 5.00: 10.00: 15.00
Damaged Kernels (Max. %)
0.25: 1.00: 3.00: 5.00
Contrasting Types (Max %)
3.00: 6.00: 10.00: 18.00
Red Kernels (Max %)
1.00: 3.00: 5.00: 10.00
Discolored Kernels (Max %)
0.50: 2.00: 4.00: 8.00
Moisture Content (Max %)
14.00:
14.00:
14.00:
14.00
NOTE: Paddy + Foreign matter = 100%

As observed from Tables 1 and 2, the sample can be graded as Grade 3 using Table 3
which contains the Grade Requirements for Paddy. Therefore, the quality of the paddy
already diminished. This might be due to improper postharvest practice.
IV.
CONCLUSION
Dockage refers to the materials or impurities present in the in the paddy. The amount
of dockage affects the quality of paddy. The higher the amount of dockage there is in the
paddy, the lower the quality of the paddy. For the thickness of the grains, it is significant
for it determines the maturity level of the paddy wherein the higher the level of maturity,
the higher is its quality.

Farmers should practice proper post-harvesting since the quality of the paddy also
lies here. And with proper postharvest practice, they can sell it at a good price.
V.
REFERENCES
ABE 2 Laboratory Discussion
Sampang, R. Paddy and Milled Rice Grading. Retrieved August 30, 2015 from
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5048e/x5048e02.htm
Indra Gandhi National Open University. Cleaning and Grading of Paddy. Retrieved August 29,
2015 from
agropedialabs.iitk.ac.in/agrilore/sites/default/.../Clean_and_Grading.ppt
International Rice Research Institute. Post Production Course. Retrieved August 29, 2015
from
http://knowledgebank.irri.org/postproductioncourse/index.php/lesson-5/98-popups/139-paddy-dockage

VI.

APPENDIX
DATA SHEET ON DOCKAGE DETERMINATION AND THICKNESS GRADING
Table 1. Dockage Determination
Sampl Large
Small
Light
Total
Purity
e
Impurities
Impurities
Materials
Impurities
Straws, etc
Seed, Chaffs, Husks, Dust,
etc
Empty Kernels
Gram %
Gram %
Gram %
Gram %
Gram
s
s
s
s
s
1
4.56
0.91
3.62
0.72
53.77 10.75 61.95 12.39 438.0
5
2
5.97
1.19
4.19
0.84
59.28 11.86 69.44 13.89 430.5
6
3
6.09
1.22
6.60
1.32
61.93 12.39 74.62 14.92 425.3
8
Avera
5.54
1.11
4.80
0.96
58.33 11.67 68.67 13.73 431.3
ge
3
Formulas used:

Large Impurities=

Weight of Large Impurities

100
Weight of Sample

Small Impurities=

Weight of Small Impurities

100
Weight of Sample

Light Impurities=

Weight of Light Impurities

100
Weight of Sample

Impurities=

Weight of Total Impurities

100
Weight of Sample

Weight of Clean Grains=Weight of SampleWeight of Total Impurities

%
87.61
86.11
85.08
86.27

Purity=

Weight of Clean Grains

100
Weight of Sample

Examples:
(Working Sample= 500g)
%

Large

% Small Impurities=

3.62 g
100=0.72
500 g

% Light Impurities=

53.77 g
100=10.75
500 g

% Total Impurities=

61.95 g
100=12.39
500 g

Impurities=

4.56 g
100= 0.91%
500 g

Weight of Clean Grains= 500g 61.95g= 438.05g

% Purity=

438.05 g
100=87.61 %
500 g

Table 2. Thickness Grading

Sample
IMMATURE GRAINS
Grams
%
1
9.12
1.82
2
9.10
1.82
3
8.88
1.78
Average
9.03
1.81
Formulas used:

Mature Grains=

Weight of MatureGrains
100
Weight of Sample

Immature Grains=
Examples:
% Mature Grains=

Weight of Immature Grains

100
Weight of Sample
427.70 g
100=85.54
500 g

% Immature Grains=

9.12 g
100=1.82
500 g

MATURE GRAINS
Grams
%
427.70
85.54
418.96
83.80
414.56
82.91
420.41
84.08