Quantitative and Qualitative Losses in Green Gram Stored in Different Containers and Temperatures

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative losses in green gram, when stored in jute bags, polythene bags and tin containers, at room temperature and at 25±2°C and 5±20C for ] 2 months after harvest are reported in this paper. The infestation of seeds with bruchids, Callosobruchus maculatus Fab., increased with the storage period and was high on seeds stored in jute bags as compared to those in polythene bags, both at room temperature and at 25°C. The seeds stored at· 5°C escaped from bruchids attack in all the three storage materials tested. There was significant increase in crude protein, crude fibre, ash and reducing sugars and decrease in soluble carbohydrate, total soluble sugars, nonreducing sugars and starch with storage time at room temperature and at 25°C. These changes were minimum at 5°C. The maximum adverse effects were observed on storage in jute bags, and minimum in polythene bags.