Akurasi Penetapan Kadar Air Benih Padi (Oryza Sativa) Menggunakan Moisture Meter

Abstract

Abstract
Today, with the advancement of science and technology, all processes in life were made quickly. Efficiency was an important point to continuously achieve and improve in many areas of human life, including agricultural technology. Post-harvest handling to ensure seeds could be processed faster needed to be encouraged by the use of advanced technology to ensure quicker acceptance and usage by farmers. The moisture meter was a more practical and efficient tool for measuring moisture content compared to the oven method. However, according to ISTA Rules, the moisture meter had to be calibrated against the oven method as the reference method. Most seed quality testing laboratories, including the Seed Control and Certification Center (BPSB) and seed producers in Indonesia, used moisture meters for determining moisture content because they were more effective (faster and cheaper) for testing large sample quantities. This research aimed to obtain quick and accurate moisture content determination results using a moisture meter with the correct calibration procedure/technique for the moisture meter and to recommend practical and accurate types of moisture meters for measuring the moisture content of rice seeds. Data from the readings were analyzed using the trumperter plot method. The research results showed that the way to get accurate moisture meter readings was by calibrating and checking the moisture meter against the oven as the reference method. The Kett moisture meter could read the moisture content of rice seeds more accurately than the DMC 500 for measuring the moisture content of rice seeds.
Keywords : Calibration, DMC 500, Kett, Moisture meter, Rice