Hermetic storage of black gram in metal bin and flexible storage bags

Hermetic storage is entirely organic, requiring no chemical or biological intervention than any other technique. Studies were done with hermetically sealed black gram at 12% moisture content in metal bin, GrainPro bag and Storezo bag for 2 months, compared with woven polypropylene bags. Observations on the moisture content (%), Callosobruchus maculatus mortality and carbon dioxide concentration were made along with temperature and relative humidity. It was observed that the moisture content in metal bin, GrainPro bag, Storezo bag and control increased after 2 months-from 12.32 to 12.41%, 12.23 to 12.73%, 12.23 to 12.76% and 12.12 to 13.44% respectively; 95% mortality of C. maculatus was observed in metal bin, while GrainPro and Storezo bag resulted in 90% mortality. The CO₂ concentration in metal bin, GrainPro, Storezo and control increased from 0.03 to 15.37%, 14.83%, 15.27% and 3.37%, respectively. Results reveal that the hermetically sealed metal bin, GrainPro bags and Storezo bags prolong the storability of black gram grains compared to the polypropylene bag.