Quality of corn grain stored in silo bags

Abstract

Airtight storage in sealed bags provides an alternative to traditional methods for on-farm grain storage. The objective of this work was therefore to evaluate the quality of corn stored in airtight sealed bags. Grain with moisture content (m.c.) of about 14.5 and 18.0% (w.b.) was properly stored in sealed mini-bags at 25; 30; and 35 °C. Analyses included moisture content, grain classification, apparent specific mass, percentage of germination and electrical conductivity at the beginning of storage and after 30; 60; 90; 135 and 180 days. There was no variation in the moisture content of corn grain stored in the silo bags. Corn was classified as Type 1 during the storage period, except for grain with 18% m.c. at 35 ºC. There was no significant decrease in the apparent specific mass in the grain during storage. In general, the percentage of germination decreased in humid and dry corn stored and the electrical conductivity increased in the solution containing the grain, except for grain stored with 14.5% m.c. at 25 and 30 °C. It is therefore possible to store corn grain in silo bags with 14.5% m.c. at 25; 30 and 35 ºC for 180 days, and grain with 18% m.c. at 25 and 30 ºC for 180 days.