Glasilo biljne zaštite, Vol. 22 No. 3, 2022.
Professional paper
PROTECTION OF CEREALS FROM PESTS DURING STORAGE
Darija Lemić
orcid.org/0000-0002-1175-3716
; Zavod za poljoprivrednu zoologiju, Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
Stored grain, especially wheat harvested during the hottest time of the year, is susceptible to rapid pest infestation, especially residual pests from storage facilities, and sometimes infestations are brought from the field or during transportation. Pests reduce the quantity and quality of grain with their metabolism and activity. Insect infestations in warehouses can result in economic losses of 9 to 20%. Favorable conditions in warehouses (temperature and humidity) favor the development of insects, which leads to contamination of stored grain, changes in color, odor and taste. For successful storage of grain in warehouses, it is necessary to create and maintain favorable conditions to prevent quality degradation and volume loss. The number of pesticides available to treat stored grain is decreasing each year, and their ecotoxicological properties are increasing environmental and safety concerns, underscoring the need for new pest control methods and technologies. Storage pests can be controlled by a combination of physical methods, from extreme temperature treatment (heating and cooling) to treating stored grain with inert powders and using a controlled atmosphere. In addition to preventive sanitation and curative physical methods, grain in warehouses can be protected by the use of insecticides such as pirimiphos-methyl and fumigants such as magnesium phosphide. Before deciding to use chemical measures, be sure to exhaust the many physical options available to protect grain during storage.
Keywords
storage systems, inert dust, controlled atmosphere, ozone, extreme temperatures
Hrčak ID:
278833
URI
Publication date:
7.6.2022.
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