The Relative Atmospheric Humidity of the Intergranular Air as a Parameter of the Biological Damage in Stored Sunflower

Abstract

AbstractThe measurement of intergranular relative air humidity of 504 commercial samples of stored sunflower was carried out in order to correlate this value with the usual parameters of commercial quality. Intergranular relative air humidity, water and oil contents of the grains were studied comparatively. The results were grouped according to the critical intergranular relative air humidity which causes the beginning of the biological deterioration. With the obtained results a graphic method was developed, putting the samples together according to the water and oil contents, so that the intergranular relative air humidity can be predicted and the storability of the sample determined. It was determined that the oil and water contents had a direct influence on the intergranular relative air humidity. These two parameters should be considered simultaneously in order to prevent and avoid the biological deterioration of stored sunflower. The direct measuring of the intergranular relative air humidity is recommended as the simplest and most accurate parameter of the biological deterioration of stored grains.