Computer simulation of gas concentration in the interstitial atmosphere of a soybean (Glycine Max) silo-bag for typical agricultural areas of Argentina

ALIEN ARIAS BARRETO; RITA ABALONE; ANALÍA GASTÓN

Dheli

Conferencia; 10th International Conference on Controlled Atmosphere and Fumigation in Stored Products; 2016

CAF Permanent Committee Secretariat

A validated mathematical model was used to determine the change in concentration of CO2 and O2 in a silo bag holding soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] from autumn to summer for a typical agricultural region in the North (Sáenz Peña, Chaco Province), Center (Pergamino, Buenos AiresProvince) and South (Balcarce, Buenos Aires Province) of Argentina. Initial moisture content (m.c.) of grain was set to 13, 15 and 17% w.b. and bagging temperatures to 15ºC and 25ºC. In Balcarce and Pergamino, with moderate and intermediate climate, winter CO2 reference values ranged from 1 to 3% V/V for dry and slightly wet (13 and 15% w.b.) soybean and increased to 2?5% V/V for wet soybean (17% w.b.). In Sáenz Peña, with sub-tropical climate, winter CO2 reference values ranged from 2.3 to 8% V/V. Values of O2 concentration below 1% V/V were attained in a soybean silo bag only under sub-tropical climatic conditions (Sáenz Peña). Under temperate and intermediate climate, insect activity would be limited in silo bags as grain mean temperature remained below 15ºC during most of the storage period, while under subtropical climate insect control would mainly depend on the interstitial gas concentration.