Effect of storage duration on moisture uptake of green gram stored in hermetic and other bags

Abstract

Green gram (Vigna radiate) grains were procured from local market, cleaned and graded by two screen cleaner-cum-grader. Storage study was conducted by storing large sized green gram grains in 4 types of bags (jute, plastic, polythene, hermetic) without and with treatment (Aluminium phosphide tablets) at 3 different initial moisture contents (12.34, 14.07, 16.04 % w.b.). Total 21 such bags having different treatment combinations were kept in laboratory for 33 weeks. Daily observation of ambient temperature and relative humidity was taken throughout the study period. Weekly observations of moisture content were recorded for 27 (jute bags) to 33 weeks (hermetic bags). It was observed that moisture content goes on increasing with advancement of storage duration across all 21 experimental combinations. The overall variation range for moisture content was 12.34 – 25.67% w.b. Variation was more in case of untreated samples as compared to treated samples. Hermetic bags stored green gram was found better with minimum moisture uptake even after 33 weeks of storage duration. Statistical analysis through UNIANOVA revealed that initial moisture content emerged as most significant independent variable to affect moisture content. The interaction of trt*imc significantly affected moisture uptake (moisture content). Hence the hermetic bag could be recommended for storing green gram safely for longer duration without affecting its quality.