Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize

Ngatia Christopher Mugo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13

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Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize

Ngatia Christopher Mugo

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Received: 3 February 2015 Accepted: 19 February 2015 Published: 6 March 2015

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Abstract

Maize storage among rural farmers is a common practice to conserve grain for future use and income generation. Storage is done in a variety of structures with the aim to maintain quality at an acceptable level. Farmers and other players in the grain trade know the negative influence of moisture and well dried grain stores better irrespective of the structure used. Introduction of metal silos for storage to reduce pest damage and the reliance on toxic chemicals for their control, did not address grain drying. Natural drying, a common practice among farmers has played vital role but with the new technology, a method that would determine when grain was adequately dry was needed. The Catholic Relief Services introduced the ‘salt and bottle’ method which works on the principle that dry salt does not stick on to a dry surface. The question was, at what moisture level would salt not stick to grain surface? The answer was provided through a laboratory assessment on maize samples collected from farmers in three dioceses, which indicated that between 12% and 16% grain moisture, negligible amounts of salt stuck on grain. At moisture above 12% maize cannot store safely for prolonged period in metal silos and drying in the shade or in the sun showed the extra time needed for successful metal silo storage.

Published in	International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13
Page(s)	51-54
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Maize Storage, Grain Moisture Content, Drying, Salt and Bottle, Validation

References

[1]	Anon 1977: The Kenya Standard, Specification for dry shelled maize (KS 01 – 42: 1977), UDC 633.15
[2]	Anon 1978: The Board of Science and Technology for International Development, Commission of International Relations, National Research Council, National Academy of Science, 1978. Congress Catalogue Number 78-70607.
[3]	Appert, J. 1987: The storage of food grains and seeds. (The Tropical Agriculturist). ISBN 0-333-44827-8.
[4]	Hall, D. W., (FAO Consultant) 1970: Handling and storage of food grains in Tropical and sub-tropical areas. FAO-UN, Rome.
[5]	Harris, K. L. and Lindblad, C. J.1978: Post-harvest Grain Loss Assessment Methods. A Manual for the evaluation of post-harvest losses. American Association of Cereal Chemists. ISBN 0-913250-14-7
[6]	Ngatia, 2012: Research – Farmer Interface: a place for ITK in Kenya. MSc: Agricultural Education Dissertation, 1993, Reading University. Publisher: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing GmbH &Co.KG ISBN: 978-3-8484-0361-5.
[7]	Walker, J. D. (Ed), 1994: World Food Programme/Natural Resource Institute: food storage manual. ISBN 0 85954 313 7.

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Ngatia Christopher Mugo. (2015). Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 3(2), 51-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13

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ACS Style

Ngatia Christopher Mugo. Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2015, 3(2), 51-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13

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AMA Style

Ngatia Christopher Mugo. Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2015;3(2):51-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13,
  author = {Ngatia Christopher Mugo},
  title = {Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {51-54},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20150302.13},
  abstract = {Maize storage among rural farmers is a common practice to conserve grain for future use and income generation. Storage is done in a variety of structures with the aim to maintain quality at an acceptable level. Farmers and other players in the grain trade know the negative influence of moisture and well dried grain stores better irrespective of the structure used. Introduction of metal silos for storage to reduce pest damage and the reliance on toxic chemicals for their control, did not address grain drying. Natural drying, a common practice among farmers has played vital role but with the new technology, a method that would determine when grain was adequately dry was needed. The Catholic Relief Services introduced the ‘salt and bottle’ method which works on the principle that dry salt does not stick on to a dry surface. The question was, at what moisture level would salt not stick to grain surface? The answer was provided through a laboratory assessment on maize samples collected from farmers in three dioceses, which indicated that between 12% and 16% grain moisture, negligible amounts of salt stuck on grain. At moisture above 12% maize cannot store safely for prolonged period in metal silos and drying in the shade or in the sun showed the extra time needed for successful metal silo storage.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize
AU  - Ngatia Christopher Mugo
Y1  - 2015/03/06
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 51
EP  - 54
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13
AB  - Maize storage among rural farmers is a common practice to conserve grain for future use and income generation. Storage is done in a variety of structures with the aim to maintain quality at an acceptable level. Farmers and other players in the grain trade know the negative influence of moisture and well dried grain stores better irrespective of the structure used. Introduction of metal silos for storage to reduce pest damage and the reliance on toxic chemicals for their control, did not address grain drying. Natural drying, a common practice among farmers has played vital role but with the new technology, a method that would determine when grain was adequately dry was needed. The Catholic Relief Services introduced the ‘salt and bottle’ method which works on the principle that dry salt does not stick on to a dry surface. The question was, at what moisture level would salt not stick to grain surface? The answer was provided through a laboratory assessment on maize samples collected from farmers in three dioceses, which indicated that between 12% and 16% grain moisture, negligible amounts of salt stuck on grain. At moisture above 12% maize cannot store safely for prolonged period in metal silos and drying in the shade or in the sun showed the extra time needed for successful metal silo storage.
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Ngatia Christopher Mugo

Postharvest Research Scientist; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya

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APA Style

Ngatia Christopher Mugo. (2015). Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 3(2), 51-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13

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ACS Style

Ngatia Christopher Mugo. Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2015, 3(2), 51-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13

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AMA Style

Ngatia Christopher Mugo. Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2015;3(2):51-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13,
  author = {Ngatia Christopher Mugo},
  title = {Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {51-54},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20150302.13},
  abstract = {Maize storage among rural farmers is a common practice to conserve grain for future use and income generation. Storage is done in a variety of structures with the aim to maintain quality at an acceptable level. Farmers and other players in the grain trade know the negative influence of moisture and well dried grain stores better irrespective of the structure used. Introduction of metal silos for storage to reduce pest damage and the reliance on toxic chemicals for their control, did not address grain drying. Natural drying, a common practice among farmers has played vital role but with the new technology, a method that would determine when grain was adequately dry was needed. The Catholic Relief Services introduced the ‘salt and bottle’ method which works on the principle that dry salt does not stick on to a dry surface. The question was, at what moisture level would salt not stick to grain surface? The answer was provided through a laboratory assessment on maize samples collected from farmers in three dioceses, which indicated that between 12% and 16% grain moisture, negligible amounts of salt stuck on grain. At moisture above 12% maize cannot store safely for prolonged period in metal silos and drying in the shade or in the sun showed the extra time needed for successful metal silo storage.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Putting Science into Farmer Practice: Validation of the Salt and Bottle Method to Determine Grain Moisture in Stored Maize
AU  - Ngatia Christopher Mugo
Y1  - 2015/03/06
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 51
EP  - 54
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150302.13
AB  - Maize storage among rural farmers is a common practice to conserve grain for future use and income generation. Storage is done in a variety of structures with the aim to maintain quality at an acceptable level. Farmers and other players in the grain trade know the negative influence of moisture and well dried grain stores better irrespective of the structure used. Introduction of metal silos for storage to reduce pest damage and the reliance on toxic chemicals for their control, did not address grain drying. Natural drying, a common practice among farmers has played vital role but with the new technology, a method that would determine when grain was adequately dry was needed. The Catholic Relief Services introduced the ‘salt and bottle’ method which works on the principle that dry salt does not stick on to a dry surface. The question was, at what moisture level would salt not stick to grain surface? The answer was provided through a laboratory assessment on maize samples collected from farmers in three dioceses, which indicated that between 12% and 16% grain moisture, negligible amounts of salt stuck on grain. At moisture above 12% maize cannot store safely for prolonged period in metal silos and drying in the shade or in the sun showed the extra time needed for successful metal silo storage.
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download