Effect of Storage Environment and Storage Material on Qualitative and Quantitative Losses in Pearl Millet

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative losses in chemical constituents of pearl millet .grains, when stored in jute bags, polythene bags and tin containers at room temperature (15°-37°C) and at 25±2°C and 5±2°C for a period of 12 months after harvest are reported in this paper. The infestation of grains with lesser grain borer and flour beetle increased with the storage period and was high on seeds stored in jute bags and tin containers as compared to polythene bags. The population of insects increased significantly after 3, 6 and 12 months of storage. The grains stored at 5°C escaped from insect infestation in all the storage materials tested. It was found that total soluble sugars, non-reducing sugars, starch and soluble carbohydrates when expressed as percentage of dry weight, reduced significantly while grain moisture, loss in grain dry matter, reducing sugars and ·crude fiber increased with increase in infestation as well as storage period at 25°C. However, crude protein content and ash also increased, but it was statistically not significant. These changes were comparatively less in grains stored at 5°C. Among the various storage containers, the minimum qualitative and quantitative changes occurred in polythene bags and maximum in jute bags.