scholarly journals Chilled Aeration to Control Pests and Maintain Grain Quality during Summer Storage of Wheat in the North Central Region of Kansas

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-688
Author(s):  
Alejandro Morales-Quiros ◽  
Carlos Campabadal ◽  
Dirk E. Maier ◽  
Sonia M.N. Lazzari ◽  
Flavio A. Lazzari ◽  
...  

Abstract.Chilled aeration allows grain to be cooled, independent of ambient conditions, to “safe” temperatures at which insects, fungi, and spoilage development are reduced to a minimum. The objective of this research was to evaluate the advantages of using grain chilling to preserve the quality of grain and reduce post-harvest losses caused by insects and fungi, compared to the conventional aeration and storage strategies used during summer storage in central Kansas. The research trials were developed at a farmer’s cooperative in central Kansas in 2015 and 2016 on low-moisture wheat harvested during the summer of 2015 and 2016, respectively, and stored in two 1,350 metric ton (t) steel silos in which one was chilled and the other was used as a control managed by the cooperative. Temperature of the grain inside each silo was monitored with temperature cables. Variables evaluated were: moisture content (MC), grain and flour quality, insect-pest development and reproduction rate, insect fragments per 500 g of grain, and fungi presence. In 2015, the chilling treatment reduced the grain temperature from 28°C to 17°C in approximately 175 h, while in 2016 it took 245 h to reach about the same temperature with an initial grain temperature of 39°C. Grain temperatures below 25°C were not achieved in the control silo during the summer using ambient aeration. Minimum variation of MC was observed in the Chilled silo while ambient aeration reduced the moisture content by 0.5%. Reproduction rates of the red flour beetle and lesser grain borer were significantly reduced by chilling temperatures lower than 17°C. Lower temperatures also reduced insect populations detected in probe traps and insect damaged kernels. Insect fragments and fungi presence had no significant increase throughout the trials in either of the silos. No clear evidence of flour quality being better preserved at lower temperatures was detected. The energy cost of running the grain chiller was between 0.26-0.32 $/t higher than ambient aeration. Keywords: Ambient aeration, Grain chilling, Grain quality, Stored-product fungi, Stored-product insects, Summer storage, Wheat.

Author(s):  
Mircea OROIAN ◽  
Sorina ROPCIUC ◽  
Amalia BUCULEI ◽  
Sergiu PADURET ◽  
Elena TODOSI

The aim of this study is to determine the physicochemical (moisture content, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, colour (L*, a*, b*, chroma, hue angle), ash content, fructose and glucose content) and to determine the phenolic profile (quercetin, apigenin, myricetin, isorhamnetin, kaempherol, caffeic acid, chrysin, galangin, luteolin, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid and pinocembrin) of five samples of honeydew honeys from the North East part of Romania. The honey samples analysed respected the maximum allowable level of the moisture content, which is established by the European Union at 20%. The acidic nature of the honeydew is confirmed by the level of the pH and free acidity of the samples, and is influenced in principal by the organic acids; all the samples had a free acidity lower than 50 meq acid/kg. The honey colour is dark which is confirmed by the level of the CIE L*a*b* parameters (lower values of L*, a* and b*). The inverted sugar level (fructose and glucose content) is higher than 60 g/ 100g, respecting the European Union directive. The phenolic profile of the honeydew samples do not presented one compound that can be considered a chemical marker, the major polyphenols presented into the honeydew honeys are quercetin and pinocembrin.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (22) ◽  
pp. 5050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torgrim Log

Severe wooden home conflagrations have previously been linked to the combination of very dry indoor climate in inhabited buildings during winter time, resulting in rapid fire development and strong winds spreading the fire to neighboring structures. Knowledge about how ambient conditions increase the fire risk associated with dry indoor conditions is, however, lacking. In the present work, the moisture content of indoor wooden home wall panels was modeled based on ambient temperature and relative humidity recorded at meteorological stations as the climatic boundary conditions. The model comprises an air change rate based on ambient and indoor (22 °C) temperatures, indoor moisture sources and wood panel moisture sorption processes; it was tested on four selected homes in Norway during the winter of 2015/2016. The results were compared to values recorded by indoor relative humidity sensors in the homes, which ranged from naturally ventilated early 1900s homes to a modern home with balanced ventilation. The modeled indoor relative humidity levels during cold weather agreed well with recorded values to within 3% relative humidity (RH) root mean square deviation, and thus provided reliable information about expected wood panel moisture content. This information was used to assess historic single home fire risk represented by an estimated time to flashover during the studied period. Based on the modelling, it can be concluded that three days in Haugesund, Norway, in January 2016 were associated with very high conflagration risk due to dry indoor wooden materials and strong winds. In the future, the presented methodology may possibly be based on weather forecasts to predict increased conflagration risk a few days ahead. This could then enable proactive emergency responses for improved fire disaster risk management.


1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-45
Author(s):  
F. S. Wright ◽  
S. H. Deck ◽  
J. S. Cundiff

Abstract A containerized handling system is envisioned whereby peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are placed in containers in the field and remain in these containers until they are shelled. This would reduce the foreign material, loose shelled kernels, and pod damage that result from handling as peanuts move through the buying point and into storage. Two naturally ventilated containers (half-trailer size) were stored in 1993. One container had a shed cover and the other an A-frame cover. In 1994 four containers were stored, two with shed covers and two with A-frame covers. One shed and one A-frame had a 1.7 m3/min fan that operated daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Top layer peanuts were at 12% moisture content at the beginning of storage in 1993 and ranged 10 to 11% moisture content after 16 wk. In 1994, the peanuts were over-dried and top layer peanuts entered storage at 6% moisture content. After 12 wk, moisture content was 7%. No mold growth or quality degradation was observed either year. The results indicated top layer peanuts absorb or desorb very little moisture when peanut moisture content is in the range of 6 to 12% at the beginning of storage. Containers were successful for storage at the ambient conditions in Tidewater, VA during 1993 and 1994.


Author(s):  
A. N. Abdulai ◽  
C. N. Konje ◽  
Tange Denis Achiri ◽  
D. N. Tarla ◽  
D. Nsobinenyui

Aims: This work aimed at establishing the different Garden crop pests and how farmers use different pesticides to manage these pests. Place and duration of the Work: This work was carried out in Santa from January to March 2013 Methodology: The methodology involved the use of structured questionnaires which were administered to 120 farmers to obtain information on demographics, constraints to successful crop production, general farm system and agronomic practices, knowledge of insect pest problems, types of pesticides used, dosage and rate of application, and different pests crops suffered from. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Results: The study indicates that majority of market gardeners in Santa community are males (70%) with ages from 30-39 and most of them are married (76%). Famers worked with relied on pesticides for pest control and did not dispose of empty pesticide containers properly such as throwing on the farm; use as drinking bowls and returned it to the pesticide vendors. Conclusion: This study provides valuable information on the pesticides used in pests and diseases control in vegetable production and health symptoms like stomach disorders, burns, and catarrh experienced by gardeners. A majority (94%) of farmers suffered from serious insect pest attacks on their farms and the most important pest was the cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) which affected (65%). A majority (96%) of farmers also reported diseases attacks with late blight (Phytophthora infestans) affecting more than four-fifth (81%) of the farms especially in the rainy season.


1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Montross ◽  
F. W. Bakker-Arkema ◽  
R. E. Hines

Holzforschung ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Rosner ◽  
Martin Riegler ◽  
Peter Vontobel ◽  
David Mannes ◽  
Eberhard H. Lehmann ◽  
...  

Abstract This study is a first approach to visualize moisture distribution and movement between annual rings during sapwood drying by neutron imaging (NI). While Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] sapwood beams were allowed to dehydrate on a balance at ambient conditions, NI was performed in 1–10 min time steps. From NI raw files, radial dimensional changes were calculated during dehydration and transmission profiles were drawn for different relative moisture content (MC) steps from full saturation until equilibrium moisture content. The NI technique proved to be a useful tool to visualize the movement of free water within, and between, annual rings. Removal of free water in the middle part of the wood beam did not proceed continuously from the surface to the central part, but was strongly influenced by wood anatomy. Water is removed from earlywood during early stages of dehydration and later, at higher moisture loss (<50% MC), from the main latewood parts. It is therefore concluded that the radial dimensional changes measured at moderate moisture loss are not only caused by cell wall shrinkage of the outer wood parts located beneath the wood surface, but a result of elastic deformation of earlywood tracheids under the influence of negative hydrostatic pressures.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Sutrisno Sutrisno ◽  
M. Wahyudin ◽  
E. Eko Ananto

Farmers in the villages always face the same problem of how to reduce the moisture content of paddy harvest during harvest and postharvest time, especially in wet season. At the farm level, the grain quality is poor and alternative drying using kerosene fuel is very costly. The objective of this research was to design and evaluate the technical and economical  performance of drying paddy using an equipment known as "ABC" dryer.  The dryer uses paddy husk as fuel. The research was conducted at Research Institute for Rice over three years (1993/94-1995/96). The result showed that the "ABC" type dryer could reduce the moisture content of 5 tons wet paddy from 22.25% to 15.03% in 9 hours or an average drying rate of 1.05% moisture content per hour, with drying cost of Rp 18<br />kg-1. Reducing the moisture content further to 11.83% needed 16 hours or average drying rate 0.82% hour-1, with drying cost almost doubled (Rp 32 kg-1). These costs are far below that of kerosene drying, i.e., Rp 30 kg-1 and Rp 60 kg-1 to reach moisture content of 15.03% and 11.83%, respectively. Budget analysis showed that the B/C ratio were 1.57 and 1.84 and the IRR are above 41.26% and 47.42% to reach moisture contents<br />of 15.03% and 11.83%, respectively. The break even points of "ABC" dryer were 130 and 60 tons, respectively. The milling test showed that the milling rice from the "ABC" dryer had better recovery (milling rendement) and rice quality (head rice) was higher than that of from sun-drying.


2021 ◽  
pp. 75-84
Author(s):  
V. Lubich ◽  
V. Zhelyezna

The article presents the study results of spelt wheat grain baking properties depending on fertilization and storage period. Europe (huskless) winter spelt wheat variety obtained by hybridization of Triticum aestivum L./Triticum spelta L. was studied. For fertilization, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, granular superphosphate, potassium chloride were used. Spelt wheat grain was stored for a year without air access at an unregulated temperature regime dry (moisture content during storage – 13.0–13.5 %) in airtight polyethylene sleeves in the conditions of usual storage. It was found that spelt wheat has a high response to the application of nitrogen fertilizers. The protein content increased from 18.6 to 22.8 % in P60K60 + N120 variant. The spelt wheat grain quality varied depending on the storage period. Thus, before storage, the gluten content was 41.1–50.4 % depending on the fertilizer variant. The lowest indicator was in the control variant and for P60K60 introduction – 41.1–41.2 %. In other fertilizer variants, the gluten content was at the level of 49.1–49.9 %. The largest was in P60K60 + N60S70 + N60 –50.4 % variant or 9 % compared to the control. Storage had a positive effect on the gluten content in spelt wheat grain as its content increased signifcantly. It can be explained by the post-harvest grain ripening, in the process of which the protein-proteinase complex changes due to the oxidizing action, oxygen, in particular. Thus, after storage for 30 days, this indicator was 41.8–52.1 % depending on the experiment variant. It was the largest when N60S70 + N60 was applied – 52.1 %, and the smallest in the variant with no fertilizers and with phosphorus-potassium (P60K60) fertilizer – 41.8–42.3 %. These indicators exceeded the gluten content before storage by an average of 1.2 abs. %. The content of protein and gluten-forming fractions is the highest after storage for 90 days. These indicators almost did not change after 180–270 days of storage. After 360 days they decreased to the grain quality indicators before storage. The gluten deformation index increased to 105–108 units of GSI instrument or by 4–8 % depending on the fertilization compared to fresh grain. Gluten moisture content decreased after 30 days of grain storage, and then increased to 68.0–69.8 % after 360 days, depending on the experiment variant. The grain acidity also increased from 3.0 to 4.0–4.1 degrees. Key words: spelt wheat, fertilization, storage, protein, gluten, dynamics, moisture content, acidity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd P. West ◽  
Samuel L. DeMarais ◽  
Chiwon W. Lee

Temperate-zone woody plant species generally require seed stratification to overcome embryo dormancy. Embryo dormancy is variable in japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) with a recommendation of 30- to 90-days stratification at 1–5 °C. Cultivar propagation generally is done by grafting onto seedling rootstocks. It would be advantageous to rootstock seedling production to be able to reduce or eliminate the need for seed stratification to increase germination numbers as well as having production moved from field beds to greenhouses for quicker production of high-quality rootstock plants suitable for grafting. Research objective of this study was to determine if “green” seed could be used without the need of stratification for japanese tree lilac seedling production. Seed capsule fresh weight and seed moisture content were evaluated to determine if these factors could be used as predictors of germination percentages. Seed was randomly collected at the North Dakota State University campus in Fargo, ND, for seven consecutive weeks starting in Sept. 2011 and 2012. Germination and seed moisture tests were performed weekly. Germination percentage was highest (89.5%) at week 2 and steadily decreased to 0% at week 7. Germination percentages were 77.5%, 89.5%, 78.5%, 67%, 24.5%, 1.5%, and 0% for consecutive collection weeks 1–7, respectively. Seed moisture content was 59.0%, 52.6%, 49.8%, 51.8%, 44.5%, 27.4%, and 8.6% for collection weeks 1–7, respectively. Germination percentage was directly correlated with seed moisture content and decreased as seed capsules matured (natural drying and splitting of capsule seem to disperse seed) during the fall season. Data suggest that timing of fall seed collection from japanese tree lilac is critical and must be done before maturation of the seed capsule to avoid the stratification requirement. Seed capsules with an average fresh weight higher than 0.2 g and seed moisture content greater than 50% produced the highest germination rates without requiring stratification.


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