Performance of hermetic storage bags for maize grains under farmer-managed conditions: Good practice versus local reality. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kiobia, D.O.; Silayo, V.C.K.; Mutabazi, K.D.; Graef, F.; Mourice, S.K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of stored products research. Volume 87(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Hermetic storage -- Maize weevils -- Opening routine -- Storage practices -- Grain-loses; Food -- Storage -- Periodicals; Farm produce -- Storage -- Diseases and injuries -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; Food Contamination -- Periodicals; Food Preservation -- Periodicals; Insect Control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Entreposage -- Périodiques; Produits agricoles -- Entreposage -- Maladies et dommages -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 631.568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jspr.2020.101586
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-474X

Abstract

Abstract: There are various types of grain storage bags available to farmers in tropical countries. However, these bags differ in price, quality, and reduced post-harvest losses due to insect pests and mould infestation. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three types of storage bags of Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS), Grain pro-super (GPS) and woven (WN) bags under assumed small farmer's storage practices in the sub-tropical climatic conditions. The practice of weekly routine opening of the bags was compared with the recommended practice of keeping the bags closed for at least 3 months. Under laboratory experiment, insect population, moisture content, grain humidity, and temperature were measured at the weekly intervals while under farmer's setting, moisture content (%) of maize and percentage of insect damage were measured after 3 and 6 months of storage at the farmer's homestead. Considering the routine weekly opening effect, the PICS bag kept a low grain humidity average (56.6%) compared to the Grain pro-super bag (64.2%) and Woven bag (71.5%). The PICS bag reduced the insect population to an average of zero (0.4) compared to GPS (6.5) and the WN (14.8). Under farmer's conditions, the mean difference in the percentage of insect damage between the PICS and GPS were insignificant (P > 0.05) at both 3 and 6 months of storage, and the insect damage throughout decreased with time. The results of this study indicate that PICS bag may support positively the practice of routine weekly opening compared to the GPS and WN in the sub-tropical climatic conditions. Highlights: Weekly routine opening practice affects differently the bags of maize during storage. Hermetic bags reduces the live weevils at 3 and 6 months of storage of maize. Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags supports weekly routine opening practice of maize.