e-Extension for Agriculture

Storability of grain or seed is affected by climate (temperature and RH) and MC.

For example, Wimberly (1983) developed a model for paddy storage shown in the figure. At 27°C temperature, the storage time of 14.5% MC paddy is 26 days; while the seed at 16.5% MC can be stored for only 10 days.

If grain is to be stored safely for more than 3 months, it must:

Have less than 12% moisture
Be protected from insects and rodents
Be protected from reabsorbing moisture, either from rain or the surrounding atmosphere

Sealed or hermetic storage is an option that works well in the tropics and in isolated areas. Drying the seed to 12% or less and storing it in hermetic storage reduces the risk of insect and rodent damage and the grain will not absorb moisture from the atmosphere or be damaged by rain. Research has shown that the life of farmers’ seed has doubled with the use of hermetic storage systems.