Effects of previous storage history, hybrid, and drying method on the storability of maize grain (corn)

Abstract

Maize grain (corn) from three harvest years (1986, 1991, and 1992) was harvested, dried, and stored in small bins. Samples taken at harvest and samples taken after various periods of bin storage (up to 77 months) were subjected to accelerated storage tests for measurement of carbon dioxide (CO 2) evolution. The initial ( t < 72 h) slopes (SLOPE72) of CO 2 evolution rate curves were related to storability ( r = 0.82), as measured by cumulative CO 2 evolution at 200 h. SLOPE72 (a faster test method than cumulative evolution) was subsequently used to evaluate the effects of the following factors on storability: (1) hybrid, (2) drying method, and (3) previous storage history. Differences in storability, attributable to hybrid, were significant both at harvest and after periods of bin storage. One extremely unusual growing year (severe drought stress) affected the otherwise consistent storability ranking among hybrids. Maize grain dried by high-temperature (95 °C) batch crossflow drying had significantly lower storability (i.e. greater SLOPE72) than did the same hybrids dried by low-temperature (ambient air) drying. Previous storage history (moisture content and duration) affected subsequent storability. Storage for longer periods, given the same moisture content, resulted in lower subsequent storability, and storage at higher moisture content, given the same time period, also resulted in lower subsequent storability.