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Testing of the Grainpro Cocoon for Storage of Paddy

Md. Abul Quasem
Senior Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A 5-ton capacity Grain Pro Cocoon was tested at BRRI HQ for storage of seed paddy. The Cocoon was set up in the store room of the Farm division in May,2000. About 3650 kg of paddy in gunny bags were put in five layers inside the Cocoon and it was made hermitically sealed by zipper mechanism. Oxygen level inside the Cocoon reduced to bellow 3% within a week and it maintained throughout the study period. At the end of the storage period of 210 days, the seed viability was above 90%. Insect population was also reduced to nearly zero. Live insects were dead inside the Cocoon due to high concentration of CO₂ and low level of oxygen in the hermetic storage environment.

Keywords: Storage, Zipper, Viability, Insect population, Oxygen level

Location: Gazipur

Start Date: 01-07-2000

End Date: 30-06-2001

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Farm machineries, Rice

Objectives:

1. To test the Cocoon for its suitability as seed grain storage 2. To study the quality of stored grain as seed

Methodology:

Grainpro Cocoon is made of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material and had only two parts with zip together. The Grainpro Cocoon dimension is shown in the following Table 25. The storage Cocoon was set up in the store room of Farm Division, BRRI HQ. Bottom part of the Cocoon was spread on the ground and about 3650 kg of paddy were put in five layers of jute bags on it. Then the upper part of Cocoon was placed on the paddy bags and closed with the Zip mechanisms. Before placing paddy in the Cocoon storage and in control, paddy samples were collected to measure moisture content, test viability and counting of insect population of seed. Both in the storage system as well as outside of the storage, one data logger each was placed to monitor the temperature and relative humidity (RH) at 6 hours regular interval. Oxygen concentration in the Cocoon and ambient air was monitored by oxygen analyzer regularly at the first week, twice in the second week and once after then. The storage system was regularly observed in order to check any default. Immediately after storage air leakage was found in the storage system due to zipper failure and it was reclosed by the Zipper. Storage was continued for 210 days. During storage, the Cocoon was opened at 100, 120 and 210th day and paddy samples were collected from the same bags for measuring same parameters like moisture content, viability and insect population. The seedling growth was also observed to assess the seed quality. The CO₂ concentration could not be measured due to non-availability of the CO₂ analyzer. Before final measurement, the internal Oxygen concentration was measured by the gas analyzer.

Source of Information: BRRI Annual Research Review 2000-01

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It revealed the result that freshly harvested and properly dried paddy may be safely stored in the Cocoon for about 1 yr period including 5 months initial storage in the normal room temperature at satisfactory level of seed germination. However, the traditional storage of paddy, grain can be stored less than 7 months with an unsatisfactory level of seed germination (74%).

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings