IMPORTANCE OF MOISTURE AND

TEMPERATURE IN SAFE STORAGE

OF FOOD GRAINS
Factors affecting quality of grains during storage

Physical factors
Temperature
Moisture & relative humidity

Chemical factors
Biochemical deterioration
Pesticides

Biological factors
Insects and mites
Rats
Birds
Micro-organisms

Engineering factors
Structural Factors
Bag storage
Bulk storage
Handling equipments
Abiotic variables
Moisture
Temperature
Biotic variables
Microorganisms
Insects
Mites
Properties of the grains
Scientifically visualized controls bring ideal balance in the
relationship of the abiotic variables with the biotic variables, which
ensure proper grain preservation and soundness. When these
relationships got disturbed due to unfavourable storage conditions or
defective practices, spoilage occurs.

So the scientific storage of food grains in India is of para mount
importance

The effects of temperature and moisture content in safe storage of
food grains are inter related
Grains are living beings and respire
During respiration oxygen is taken up and and inherent
carbohydrates are catabolised to CO
2
and water. In the process
heat is also produced.This decomposition causes a material
loss of weight, commonly known as dry matter loss.

Respiration activity is mainly influenced by
Temperature and moisture content
Upto moisture content of 15% , this activity is extremely low
Further 2% rise from 15% to 17% will increase the CO
2

production

by

80 times.

Grains have low thermal conductivity
The heat produced during respiration is accumulated and grain
temperature rises.

The grain being hygroscopic in nature picks up and gives up
moisture from atmosphere and attains equilibrium.

Moisture content (%) g dry matter Loss (%)
11.0 0.21 0.0002
14.5 0.96 0.001
17.0 83.90 0.08
20.5 244.8 0.24
33.0 1364.00 1.36
Loss of dry matter through respiration of 100kg wheat at
18
0
C within 10 days
Temperature
0
C g dry matter Loss (%)
18.0 0.96 0.001
30 5.1 0.005
40 13.6 0.013
52 169.8 0.017
Loss of dry matter through respiration of 100kg wheat at
14.5% within 10 days
Mean values of dry matter loss for a storage period of six months
15.0% moisture, at 20
0
C = 0.38% dry matter loss
15.0% moisture, at 6
0
C = 0.38% dry matter loss
Sr. No. Stored cereal Safe moisture content
(WB, %)
1 Wheat 12.0
2 Paddy 14.0
3 Rice 13.0
4 Corn 13.0

5 Soybean 12.0
Critical moisture content(%) for safe storage of
cereal grains
Harvesting and drying
Grain moisture
content (12-14%)
Minimize cracked and
broken grain during
processing
Dont mix old and new
grain
Moisture
Migration

Results
From
Non-uniform
Temperature
Hot spot
caused by
insects
Hot spot
spreading
From warm
moist air
Condensation near
cool surface
Damage due
to moisture
rising from hot
spot
mould
Sprouting of grains
Spoilage of grains due to development of insect and fungi
Outside air temperature
above grain temperature
Damage
at bottom
Outside air temperature
below grain temperature
Damage
at top
Management for successful storage:

Control of temperature

Control of seed moisture
Control of temperature
Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors which influence seed
viability and vigour during storage, the lower the temperature; the longer the seeds
maintain germination capacity. Thus, temperature control is an important consideration
in building seed storage.
Temperature control may be achieved in one of the following ways:
Ventilation
Insulation
Refrigeration

These methods are not mutually exclusive, and are normally used to supplement each
other.
Ventilation
Ventilation could be used to reduce seed temperature and seed moisture content, if
used judiciously. In addition, it also helps prevent hot spots from developing; the
formation of convection air currents and maintenance of uniform seed moisture
content and temperature.
Time of ventilation: Whenever the outside temperature of air and relative humidity
are low enough to benefit the seeds, either by reducing seed temperature or seed
moisture content, the ventilating fans (exhaust fans) can be turned on.
Advantages of Silo Storage
Space required in Silo facility is 1/3
rd
against
conventional storage
Quick transaction of farmers produce in most
efficient & transparent manner
Lesser threat from weather & hence lesser
possibility of grain spoilage
Efficient clearing of mandis during season &
usage of silos as storage point after the
procurement season is over
Economical linkages to Rail heads
No glut in mandis
Elimination of unproductive operations &
reduced losses
Contd
Scarcity of labour & inefficient labour
operations further justify need for silos
Right from farm till its sale in mandi,
foodgrains are handled in bulk. Hence Silo
Storage is best match for mechanical bulk
handling in mandis
Some existing storage facilities in Punjab/
Haryana are far from procurement as well
as Rail heads resulting in excessive
transportation cost.

Contd..
90% of wheat arrives in Punjab/ Haryana Mandis
in just 20 days resulting in choking of mandis
Increasing arrivals require expansion &
upgradation of Mandis
Horizontal expansion needs heavy investments
in land
Many mandis are situated in commercial areas,
where further expansion may not be feasible.
Alternately, these can be profitably used for
other commercial ventures
Booming economy & more employment
opportunities in labor surplus states like Bihar,
UP, Orissa has created labor shortage in
Punjab/ Haryana
Contd
Inefficient manual operations carried out in
mandis at present cannot cope up with peak
marketing requirements of state
Limited resources of transporters result in non
lifting of stocks on day to day basis causing
choking of mandis during peak season
Unpredictable weather during season threatens
procurement process besides spoiling the stocks
lying in open yard
Present manual operation creates lot of
environmental problems
Weighment & Quality Check System in present
mandis is not effectively implemented due to
inherent limitations of the manual system
The following table shows the EMC of paddy under different storage conditions.
The green colored areas represent the desirable environmental conditions for
safe storage of paddy or rough rice in the tropics. The yellow areas represent
conditions for safe seed storage. Grain needs to be stored at less than 14%
moisture and seed at less than 12%.

At the time of storage

Initial wt of wheat = 100 kg
IMC = 12%
Wt of dry matter (BDW) = 88 kg
At the time of dispatch

Moisture content = 13%
Final wt of wheat = W
100 *
W
BDW W
MC
W= 101.149 kg
At the time of dispatch

Moisture content = 11%
Final wt of wheat = W
W= 98.876 kg