Storage of mungbean in hermetic PVC tank: Presentation

This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of hermetic storage on quality of mungbean. About 260 kg of mungbean samples were stored in an especially design 350 L capacity hermetic PVC tanks (hermetic tank) and non-hermetic PVC tanks (control tank). Hermetic PVC tanks were closed air-tightly. All tanks were randomly placed in a warehouse. Each hermetic and control PVC tanks were artificially infested by 50 unsexed Callosobruchus chinensis kept in 4 glass jars containing 100 g of mungbean and jars were dipped in four different depths. The gas concentrations in the tanks were monitored up to 6 months intervals. Percentages of germination, moisture content, and grain damage were evaluated at the end of the storage. The oxygen content of hermetic samples was dropped to 11±1.2% and carbon dioxide content was increased up to 7±0.7% within 6 months of storage. Live insects of C. chinensis were not found in hermetic samples after 6 months but abundant population of C. chinensis was found in the control PVC tank just after one month. After 6 months, germination percentage of the mungbean samples stored in hermetic tanks had decreased from 95±3% to 82±4%, whereas it was decreased from 95±3% to 47±7% in control tanks due to grain damage. Percent grain damage of the hermetic sample was only 4.5±1% compared to the heavy insect damage of the control samples. Moisture content of hermetic samples remained unchanged compare to the control.This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of hermetic storage on quality of mungbean. About 260 kg of mungbean samples were stored in an especially design 350 L capacity hermetic PVC tanks (hermetic tank) and non-hermetic PVC tanks (control tank). Hermetic PVC tanks were closed air-tightly. All tanks were randomly placed in a warehouse. Each hermetic and control PVC tanks were artificially infested by 50 unsexed Callosobruchus chinensis kept in 4 glass jars containing 100 g of mungbean and jars were dipped in four different depths. The gas concentrations in the tanks were monitored up to 6 months intervals. Percentages of germination, moisture content, and grain damage were evaluated at the end of the storage. The oxygen content of hermetic samples was dropped to 11±1.2% and carbon dioxide content was increased up to 7±0.7% within 6 months of storage. Live insects of C. chinensis were not found in hermetic samples after 6 months but abundant population of C. chinensis was found in the control PVC tank just after one month. After 6 months, germination percentage of the mungbean samples stored in hermetic tanks had decreased from 95±3% to 82±4%, whereas it was decreased from 95±3% to 47±7% in control tanks due to grain damage. Percent grain damage of the hermetic sample was only 4.5±1% compared to the heavy insect damage of the control samples. Moisture content of hermetic samples remained unchanged compare to the control

Increased rate of potassium fertilizer at the time of heading enhances the quality of direct seeded rice

Abstract Background Potassium (K) is not easily assimilated into organic matter but helps to improve rice quality. Paddy yield and its quality depend on the correct time of fertilization and harvesting (days after flowering) in the field. Methods Changes in the grain quality of (Oryza sativa L.) were studied in a field experiment over two dry seasons using three rates of muriate of potash (MOP; 60% K2O) as 12.5, 25 and 37.5 kg/ha applied at the time of heading (7 weeks after planting—WAP). Paddy samples were harvested during 25, 30 (control), 35 and 40 days after 50% flowering (DAFF). Grain yield and physico-chemical characteristics of grain were studied after harvesting. Results The impact of seasons and treatments’ interactions was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) and, hence, data were averaged over two seasons. Length, breadth, true density and bulk density of rice grains were the highest with 37.5 kg MOP/ha applied at heading and harvested at 30–35 DAFF. Crude protein (6.24%) and crude fat (2.61%) contents in grains were the highest when harvested at 40 DAFF and 35–40 DAFF, respectively. Amylose content decreased with increased MOP rates at the time of heading and delayed paddy harvest. The highest average paddy yield (APY; 6.85 t/ha), head rice yield (HRY; 65%) and total rice milling yield (TMY; 67%) were recorded with 37.5 kg MOP/ha applied at heading of rice plant and paddy harvested at 35 DAFF. The APY, HRY and TMY were also 13.8, 7.7 and 5.9% higher, respectively, compared to the control. Applying K fertilizer at a rate 50% more (18.75 kg K/ha) than the recommended rate at the time of heading (7 WAP) and harvesting paddy at optimum maturity (35 DAFF), which is 5 days later than the recommendation, increase the yield and grain quality of direct seeded rice. Harvesting later than 35 DAFF resulted in a 10.5% loss of HRY (P < 0.05). Conclusions The present study showed that K fertilizer applied at the rate of 37.5 kg MOP/ha at the time of heading 50% higher than the recommended rate is the best among K fertilizer treatments to obtain the highest HRY