Influence of Storage Period on Physical Properties and Quality of Paddy Stored in GIC Silo and Bag Storage under Humid Konkan Climatic Conditions

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to study the influence of storage period and type of storage on the physical properties (bulk density, thousand grain weight, germination, insect infestation, protein content and ash content) and quality of paddy grain stored in galvanized iron corrugated silo and bag storage under humid Konkan climatic conditions. It was found that duration of storage had a profound effect on some of the properties and quality of stored paddy grain. Bulk density of paddy decreased from 510 to 502 kg.m^-3 in silo storage and 510 to 501 kg.m^-3 in bag storage, thousand grain weight of paddy decreased from 19.3 g to 18.4 g in silo storage and 19.1 g to 17.6 g in bag storage, germination percentage of paddy decreased from 70.6% to 52.3% in silo storage and 69.5% to 49.3% in bag storage, insect infestation increased from 4.7% to 18.8% in silo storage and 4.4% to 20.2% in bag storage, protein content of paddy grain decreased from 8.78% to 7.89% in silo storage and 8.33% to 7.40% in bag storage, ash content of paddy increased from 7.30% to 8.75% in silo storage and 8.20% to 9.20% in bag storage during storage period of 10 months. The moisture content of paddy increased between the month of May and July in both silo and bag storage, and did not vary significantly during the other periods.