Integrating storage structures and store time in maize grains postharvest losses evaluation in Northern Zone of Tanzania
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Date
2019-06-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
INNSPUB
Abstract
Maize is the most important cereal crop in Tanzania, thus its postharvest losses are a big threat to food security.
This study integrated maize store-time with five storage methods namely Perdue Improved Cowpeas Storage
bags (PICS), Metal Drums, Kihenge, Polyethylene bags with insecticides and Polyethylene bags without
insecticide. Trials were established following a randomized complete block design with five treatments at
Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara, and treatments were monitored for weevil’s infestation for six months
consecutive. The results showed PICS bag was the most efficient storage method in minimizing insect damaged
kernels as it only contributed to 1% of the insect damaged kernels, while other methods such as Metal drum,
Kihenge Polyethylene bag with insecticide and Polyethylene bag without insecticide resulted in 4%, 23 %, 29%,
and 43% insect damaged kernels respectively after six month store‒time. The correlation matrix showed similar
results with coefficients of correlation‒0.378, ‒0.272, 0.045, 0.037 and 0.516 respectively. With regards to store-
time PICS bag and Metal drum had the lowest number of insect damage throughout six-month store-time.
Polyethylene bag with insecticide was able to keep the kernel insect free only for three months while
Polyethylene bag without insecticide kept grains free of weevil infestation only for one. There was no suggesting
time to store grains using Kihenge due to its fewer numbers of observations
Sustainable Development Goals
A research article was published by International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |Vol. 14, 2019
Keywords
Food security, Insect damaged kernels, Moisture content, PICS bags