Assessment of losses in black gram, Vigna mungo and green gram, Vigna radiata stored at farm level in different types of structures in Madhya Pradesh (India)

The losses caused by Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. and C. chinensis Linn. In black gram, Vigna mungo L. & Hepper (urd), and green gram, Vigna radiata Wilczk. (moong) stored for six months In four types of structures, viz., bags, mud Kothi or Kachcha Kothi, earthen pots and tin containers were assessed in 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh (India). These districts included Bhind, Bilaspur, Chhindwara, Chhattarpur, Dhar, Guna, Hoshangabad, Mandsaur, Rajnandgaon, Raipur, Sidhi and Sehor. Irrespective of the structure used in storage of these two pulses, the maximum losses due to pulse beetles were recorded in urd (22.3%) and moong (25.5%) in Bhind district. Per cent germination substantially increased in stored pulses as compared to freshly harvested pulses. Regardless of the districtfrom where the samples or pulses were collected, the maximum damage was caused by pulse beetles in urd (8.7%) vis-a-vis moong (8.3%) stored in bags. These pulses stored 10 bags were significantly more prone to attack by pulse beetles when compared with tin containers. The pulses sotred in other two structures, viz., mud Kothi and earthen pots were similarly vulnerable to pulse beetles. Tin containers proved to be the best structures for storage of urd and moong at farm level. Moong was relatively preferred than urd during storage by pulse beetles.