Abstract

GARCIA LEANOS, María de Lourdes et al. Hermetic silo for the control of storage grain pests in Guanajuato, Mexico. Agric. Téc. Méx [online]. 2007, vol.33, n.3, pp.231-239. ISSN 0568-2517.

In the state of Guanajuato, Mexico; storage maize losses can reach up to 22% and 40% reduction in germination due to the attack of insects, fungi and rodents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hermetic silo for the control of stored maize pests. In order to compare insect and fungi incidence on stored grain under the usual farmer conditions with the hermetic silo 35 modules were located in 15 counties of Guanajuato in 2002. Six testers were placed inside and outside the silo. A tester and a maize sample were analyzed monthly from April to September. A completely random block design with two treatments and 33 replications was used. A total of 16 genera of insects and 22 of fungi were identified. A 21 % of grain loss was observed in the farmer's storage and 5% in the hermetic silo. Seed germination reduction of 50% occurred outside the silo in comparison with 5% inside the silo.

Keywords : Hermetic storage; pest control; grain storage.