Detecção precoce da perda de matéria seca do milho armazenada em silos verticais

Abstract

The grain mass in the storage environment constitutes a dynamic ecosystem, formed by biotic and abiotic elements that are affected both chemically and biologically by several factors, intrinsic and extrinsic. Temperature, relative air humidity and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration must be monitored, as abnormal variations in any of these factors can create favorable conditions for grain deterioration. Given the above, the objective of this work was to monitor the abiotic factors that constitute the storage ecosystem, aiming at the early detection of dry matter loss of corn grains stored in prototypes of vertical silos. The experiment was carried out at the Post-Harvest Laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Campus Cachoeira do Sul, from the storage of corn grains with water contents of 16, 14 and 12% in prototypes of vertical silos and monitoring of the temperature. of ambient and intergranular air, ambient and intergranular relative humidity and concentration of CO2 in the mass of grains to determine the loss of dry matter of the grains during 12 months of storage. The grains stored with water content of 16 and 14% reached a higher intergranular temperature, increased CO2 concentration and higher dry matter losses, when compared to grains stored with 12%. It is concluded that the water content in the grains influenced the quality of the corn during the storage period, since the grains stored with a water content higher than 12% suffered from an increase in their respiratory process, resulting in a greater loss of dry matter. and decreased safe storage time. CO2 monitoring proved to be effective in controlling the quality of corn grains during storage, as it optimizes the early detection of grain deterioration.