Storage Technicalities

Three essential technicalities are required to be considered for a sensible storage which are:

1.Equilibrium Moisture content

2.Shelf life of grain as per its moisture content

3.Dry matter loss as per moisture removal

• Moisture content for a long term shelf life of a grain beyond 90 days is 12% or below which can only happen in a bulk storage either under normal ambient conditions or chilling conditions

EMC

Equilibrium Moisture Content (%wb*) at 25°C

Grain	30% RH	40% RH	50% RH	60% RH	70% RH	80% RH	90% RH	100% RH
Barley	8.5	9.7	10.8	12.1	13.5	15.8	19.5	26.8
Shelled Maize	8.3	9.8	11.2	12.9	14.0	15.6	19.6	23.8
Paddy	7.9	9.4	10.8	12.2	13.4	14.8	16.7	–
Milled Rice	9.0	10.3	11.5	12.6	12.8	15.4	18.1	23.6
Sorghum	8.6	9.8	11.0	12.0	13.8	15.8	18.8	21.9
Wheat	8.6	9.7	10.9	11.9	13.6	15.7	19.7	25.6

 

DURATION OF WAREHOUSING (in days)

Source: FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin no 93

	TEMPERATURE
MOISTURE	5°C	10°C	15°C	20°C	25°C	30°C
13%				180	115	90
14%			160	100	50	30
15%			100	50	30	15
16%		130	50	30	20	8
17%		65	35	22	12	5
18%	130	40	25	17	8	2
19%	70	30	17	12	5	0
20%	45	22	15	8
21%	30	17	11	7
22%	23	3	8	6
23%	17	10	7	5
24%	13	8	4	4
25%	10	8	6	3

Dry Matter Loss As Per Moisture Removal

Moisture Loss (kg/tonne)

Initial Moisture Content % (wb)	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11
30	136	146	157	167	176	186	195	205	213
29	125	134	145	155	165	174	184	193	203
28	111	122	133	143	153	163	172	182	191
27	99	110	120	131	141	151	161	170	179
26	86	98	108	119	129	140	149	159	169
25	74	85	96	107	116	128	138	148	157
24	62	73	84	95	105	115	125	135	145
23	49	61	72	83	94	105	115	125	134
22	37	49	60	71	82	93	103	113	124
21	25	37	48	60	70	81	91	102	112
20	12	24	36	48	58	69	80	90	100
19	–	12	24	36	47	58	69	79	90
18	–	–	12	24	35	47	57	68	78
17	–	–	–	12	23	35	45	56	66
16	–	–	–	–	12	23	34	45	55
15	–	–	–	–	–	12	23	34	45