Effect of temperature, relative humidity and moisture content on germination percentage of wheat stored in different storage structures

Abstract

The paper presents information regarding the pattern of changes in the environmental conditions (i.e. temperature, relative humidity and moisture content) on the stored wheat in Galvanized Iron Corrugated (GIC) silo, Godown storage and CAP storage.  The grain moisture content in the silo increased from 11.20% to 17.08% wet basis (w.b.), in bag storage increased from 11.20% to 17.25%, and in CAP storage increased from 11.20% to 17.19% wet basis (w.b.) during the storage period from April 06 to November 06.  The moisture content of the wheat grain then slightly decreased during the storage period from November 06 to April 07.  The temperature of the grain inside silo was 29.30℃ while at the end of the storage period, the temperature was 42.90℃.  The initial grain temperature inside Godown storage was 29.30℃ and at the end of the storage period, it was 32.31℃.  The initial grain temperature inside CAP storage was 29.10℃ and it increased to 39.94℃ at the end of the storage period.  The relative humidity in the silo was 16.1% lower than the ambient relative humidity.  The germination percentage of grain inside the silo was decreased from 86.70% to 78.60%, in Godown storage it decreased from 86.70% to 53.30%, and in CAP storage it decreased from 86.70% to 46.60% during the storage period from April to September.

Keywords: temperature, moisture content, relative humidity, germination percentage, wheat, GIC, silo, Godown, CAP