Effects of storage in triple-layer hermetic bags on stored field pea grain quality and infestation by the pea weevil, Bruchus pisorum L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

• Field pea is an important pulse crop that plays a key role in human and animal nutrition as well as for soil fertility in many cropping systems. In East Africa, the pea weevil, Bruchus pisorum L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), is one of the main biotic production constraints causing considerable loss both in the field and during storage. The storage loss level depends on the number of weevils remaining in the seed after harvest and on the storage facilities and practices of the farmers. To address the storage losses, we evaluated the effectiveness of hermetic triple-layer Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags, on stored grain quality and control of pea weevil infestation in Ethiopia. The PICS bag and two currently used farmers' storage practices: polypropylene bag (PP) and polyethylene bag with Actellic dust (PE) were compared. Each bag was filled with 50 kg of field peas, and stored for 5 months. Fewer live adult pea weevils and lower percent grain damage was recorded in PICS and PE bags compared to PP bags along the storage period. Field pea grains stored in PICS bags and PE bag also retained higher germination capacity as compared to those stored in a PP bag. The proximate composition differed significantly between storage treatments during the trial. Grain stored in PICS bag and PE bag with Actellic dust showed higher grain moisture, crude protein, and crude fat content, but less total carbohydrate and ash content as compared with grain stored in PP bag. We concluded that PICS bags can be used by smallholder field pea growers to maintain grain quality postharvest, remove the need to use pesticides on their stored peas, and reduce pea weevil damage.

Subject headings

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Jordbruksvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Agricultural Science (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)