Prospects and method of seed grain storage in a container with gas-regulating medium

Abstract

The quality of seed grain storage is an important factor in increasing crop yields. Sowing with poor quality seeds even in favorable weather conditions leads to reduction in yields by more than 10 %. During storage, grain loses its weight and quality. The main causes of such losses are biological losses (resulting from grain respiration, the intensity of which depends on the temperature and humidity of the environment); losses from insect pests, rodents that can penetrate the grain mass. The existing storage methods are labor-intensive and low efficient; therefore, this paper describes the method of seed grain storage in a container with gas-regulating medium. It presents the design of the container and the results of laboratory tests to determine the effect of structural and technological parameters of the container on seed grain germination and the change of the vital activity of insect pests of cereals.