Chapter 1 Principle of Grain Storage
Chapter 1 Principle of Grain Storage
Chapter 1 Principle of Grain Storage
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Grain Storage Never Improves
Grain Quality
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Outline
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Development of Insects and Molds
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Temperature Influence on Insects
(Source: Fields 1992)
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Relative Growth Rate as a Function of
Relative Humidity
Maximum
Growth Rate
Fungi
Bacteria
Minimum
60 70 80 90 100
Relative Humidity, %
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Relative Growth Rate as a Function of
Temperature
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Biological Losses
• Insect development (species dependent)
– Minimal under 16oC or above 40oC
• Mold development
– Maximum RH under 70%
• Mycotoxins
– Primarily aflatoxin that could develop in storage
(optimal growth 27-30oC and 85-95% RH)
– Other mycotoxins are typically present prior to
harvest
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Causes of Grain Spoilage
• Unsafe moisture content for climatic conditions
• Condensation
– Solar vs. shaded effect
– Day vs. night time effect
• Moisture migration
• Self-heating of stored product
– grain respiration, insect respiration
• Moisture infiltration
– bolt holes, cracks, spouts, bin sheets, vents
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Characteristics of US Corn
• Harvested wet
– Requires artificial drying
• Produced in cool climates
– Average summer
temperature 24oC
– Relatively dry climate
– Winter temperatures
frequently below 0oC
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Moisture Content Review
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Maximum Recommended Moisture
Content for Aerated Grain in US
South Central North
Sold as #2 by 14 15 15
spring
Stored 6 to 12 13 14 14
months
Stored more 12 13 13
than 1 year
Adapted from MWPS, AED-20
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Adjustments to Recommended
Moisture Contents for Corn
• Reduce moisture content by 2 points for
non-aerated storage (i.e. 10 to 11% for
Southern US)
• Reduce moisture content by 1 point for poor
quality grain (mold, broken kernels, etc)
• Reduce the values for the Southern US for
hot, humid locations by 1 to 3 points
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Outline
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Storage Basics`
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Equilibrium Moisture Content
(EMC)
• Moisture content after an
infinite exposure to an
environment
– Increase RH, increase EMC
– Increase temperature,
decrease EMC
• Major factor in mold
development and storability
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Temperature Effect on EMC of
Maize
17.0
16.0 5
15
25
15.0
35
45
Moisture Content (% w.b.)
14.0
13.0
12.0
Minimal Mold Optimal Mold
Development Development
11.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Relative Humidity (%)
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Temperature Effect on EMC of
Soybeans
17.0
16.0 5
15
25
15.0
35
45
Moisture Content (% w.b.)
14.0
13.0
12.0
Minimal Mold Optimal Mold
11.0
Development Development
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Relative Humidity (%)
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Dry Matter Loss
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Allowable Storage Time1
300
250
13
Allowable Storage Time (days)
14
15
200
16
150
100
2 month storage
50
40 days to ship
0
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Temperature (C)
1
Assuming minimal losses in US 20/29
Cost of Lower Moisture Content
Corn
• $150/t, moisture content 15%
• 13% corn
– Shrink cost of 2.3%, = $153.45/t
– Drying cost of $7.86/t
• $161.30/t for corn at moisture content of 13%
• Does extra cost justify decreased risk?
– Recommend Southern US 13% for 1 yr storage
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Outline
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Weather Conditions in SE Asia
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Average of Daily Weather
Conditions in Bien Hoa
RH 61 80 98
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Aeration Strategies for the Tropics
• Work by Zeledon
– Investigated aeration of US corn in Central
America
– Determined aeration during mean weather
conditions most effective
• Sinicio and Muir
– Aeration of wheat in Brazil
– Investigated numerous strategies, temperature
differential lowest cost
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Typical RH and Temperature in Central America
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Summary
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Acknowledgements
• Michael J. Buschermohle, University of
Tennessee
• Dirk E. Maier, Kansas State University
• Samuel McNeill, University of Kentucky
• Manuel E. Zeledón, Universidad de Costa Rica
• Ron Noyes, Oklahoma State University
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