ArticleMaintaining a suitable microclimate inside the storage space is the most significant
factor in maintaining good quality of stored grain for small farmers. This article is aimed
at evaluating the influence of outdoor climatic conditions on the storage conditions, specifically
the temperature of stored grain in two storage containers. One structure was a 4 × 6 m cylindrical
container (55 t capacity) with a steel wire mesh wall lined with a textile shell. Spelt grain
(Triticum spelta) was also stored simultaneously at the same location in a fabric intermediate bulk
container (FIBC) bag with maximum capacity of 1 t. Neither structure was mechanically aerated.
Grain moisture and temperature were monitored during the spring and start of the summer period
of the year 2017 because of the biggest differences between the night and day temperatures.
For monitoring of the grain microbiological changes samples were taken for laboratory tests
during the whole experiment. Grain quality parameters measured during storage included the bulk
density, crude protein, falling number, germination, gluten content, sedimentation index
and contamination by mycotoxins. Monitored outdoor environment parameters were
temperature, dew point and relative humidity. Results showed a strong dependence of the stored
material temperature on the outside temperature in the case of FIBC bags (coefficient of
determination R
2 = 0.927), whereas the dependence was weaker in the larger structure
(R
2 = 0.625). Mycotoxins monitored during the period were below the detection limit in both
cases
