Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T17:27:14.610Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Trials on the Underground Storage of Maize of high Moisture Content in Tanganyika

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

G. Swaine
G. Swaine
Affiliation:
Entomologist, Department of Agriculture, Tanganyika.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Trials were carried out, at two places in Tanganyika, on the underground storage in sealed pits of maize of high moisture content. The average moisture content of the maize when placed in the two pits was 16·9 and 14·8 per cent., whilst the general level of insect infestation was very light and fairly light, respectively. The predominant species was Calandra oryzae (L.); Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.) were also present.

The maize was kept in the sealed pits for 144 and 374 days, respectively. Samples taken at intervals showed that the insect infestation died out early, and there was no increase in insect damage. Other changes, unconnected with insect infestation, took place, and conditioning and admixture of a more palatable maize was necessary before grain from the pits could be offered to the public.

It is concluded that long-term underground storage of maize of high moisture content is not a practical proposition under tropical conditions owing to the deterioration that occurs in the grain.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 48 , Issue 2 , June 1957 , pp. 397 - 407
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1957

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Argentina. Ministerio De Agricultura. (1949). Conservación de granos y almacenamiento en silos subterráneos. Memoria preparada por el Servicio de Silos Subterráneos.—222 pp. Buenos Aires.Google Scholar
Department of Scientific & Industrial Research. (1956). Report of the Pest Infestation Research Board … for the year 1955.—62 pp. London, H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Hall, D. W. & Hyde, M. B. (1954). The modern method of hermetic storage.—Trop. Agric. (Trin), 31, pp. 149–160.Google Scholar
Oxley, T. A. (1944). A simple gastrometric apparatus for estimation of carbon dioxide.—Chem. & Ind, 63, pp. 24–25.Google Scholar
Pritchard, F. W. & Walton, W. H. (1952). A new technique of gas sampling.—Chem. & Ind, 23rd February, pp. 166–167.Google Scholar
Swaine, G. (1954). Underground storage of maize in Tanganyika.—E. Afr. agric. J, 20, pp. 122–128.Google Scholar