This document discusses insect and pest management during grain storage using alternative fumigants. It begins by describing different scales of grain storage from small household levels to large warehouses. It then discusses the types of losses that can occur during storage, including quantitative losses from direct feeding and qualitative losses that reduce grain quality. Major storage pests are identified as insects, rodents, birds, and microorganisms. Effective management requires integrated approaches including monitoring, proper storage structures and conditions, and alternative control methods like fumigation. The document focuses on fumigation methods, approved fumigants, and guidelines for their safe use.
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Guru P N_Innovative storage techniques_CIPHET.pdf
1. Insect & pest management during grain storage using
alternative fumigants
Dr. Guru P. N.
Scientist (Agricultural Entomology)
ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana
Email: guru.pn@icar.gov.in
In: Winter School on ‘Innovative Storage Solutions: The Best Way Forward for Reducing Post-Harvest Losses, and
Doubling Farmers’ Income’ Organised By ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana
(01 December 2022)
1
2. STORAGE
Small scale-
household
level, farm
level
Community
level, village
level,
temporary
storages
Large scale
storages,
warehouses,
buffer stocks
Few days
to few
weeks
Few
weeks to
few
months
Few
months
to years
For consumption, seed for sowing in next seasons, seed saving
▪ On the farm,
▪ At collection points serving a number of farms and
▪ At terminal points where grain is processed or moved forward in
larger bulks
2
4. Quantitative loss
• Direct feeding insects cause loss in
weight of the stored grains
Qualitative loss
• Direct feeding on the grain
• Chemical changes in grain content
• Contamination of grains with moult
skin and body parts
• Vectors of grain diseases
• Loss of seed viability
Insect
damage in
storage
4
5. Temperature – indirect relation, the higher the
temperature the shorter the storage life
because of increased metabolism rates of
grains and pests
Grain moisture: speed up the spoilage,
favourable for microbes
Humidity – storage atmosphere should be of
70±5%RH
Storage time - Sound and scientific
management needed for the long term
storage
5
6. Storage
Required moisture
content
for safe storage
Potential problems
if requirement not
met
2 to 3 weeks 14–18 %
Molds,
discoloration,
respiration loss
8 to 12 months 12–13 % Insect damage
more than 1 year 9% or less Loss of viability
Rice
Safe storage conditions for grain
Proper drying of grains
before harvest
6
7. Moisture content requirement for
safe storage of grains
(27 °C, 70% RH)
Crop EMC
Maize shelled 13.5
Maize flour 11.5
Wheat 13.5
Wheat flour 12.0
Sorghum 13.5
Millet 16.0
Paddy 15.0
Rice 13.0
Pulses 15.0
Lentil, pea 14.0
Groundnut (shelled) 7.0
➢ The longer the grain needs
to be stored, the lower the
moisture content required.
➢ Safe storage moisture level
of 10-12 % for cereals and
7-9% for oil seeds (on wet
basis) effective for a safe
storage of 6-12 months.
GRAIN
MOISTURE
CONTENT
(IGMRI, Hapur)
7
8. Micro-organisms: generally recognized with
stored grain diseases and the mycotoxins
produced. Significant qualitative loss
Insects: generally feeds on grain internally
and externally. Cause both quantitative and
qualitative loss.
Birds: problems in open storage
Rodents: hard to manage pests, causing both
qualitative and quantitative losses. Presence
of uric acid in grains is the major indication of
their damage.
8
9. BIRDS
Aves
1. Old world and new world sparrows - Passer
spp. (Passeridae: Passeriformes)
2. Laughing dove - Spilopelia senegalensis
(Columbidae: Columbiformes)
3. Common myna or Indian myna -
Acridotheres tristis (Sturnidae: Passeriformes)
4. Pigeon - Columba livia (Columbidae:
Columbiformes)
5. Rose Ringed/ ring-necked Parakeet-
Psittacula krameri (Psittaculidae:
Psittaciformes)
6. House crow/ Indian, grey necked, Ceylon or
Colombo crow - Corvus splendens (Corvidae:
Passeriformes)
2
5
6
1
3
4
9
10. • Use of bird scarer like metallic sheets and ribbons
• Acoustic device (Bird scarer/ acetylene exploider)/
Firecrackers
• Barrier meshes
• Slow drying plastic jellies / Grease
• Ultra-sonic disturbances and recorded bird call (warning cries
and distress call)
• Cats -natural predators
• Repellents like methiocarb, methyl anthranilate and others.
Management
Preventive
Curative
Scientific handling
Avoid the spillage
10
11. RODENTS
To gnaw
Black rat - Rattus rattus
Brown rat - Rattus norvegicus
House mouse -
Mus musculus
Indian mole-rat/ Lesser bandicoot rat-
Bandicota bengalensis Indian gerbil - Tatera indica
Basis of their shelter, rats
can broadly be
divided in to two
groups.
A. House rats
B. Field rats
Squirrels Chipmunks Woodchucks/
Groundhog
11
12. Rodent Pest Management
CONTROL METHODS
NON-CHEMICAL CHEMICAL
NON-LETHAL CHEMICAL LETHAL CHEMICAL
Ultrasound and
electromagnetic devices
ACUTE TOXICANTS
DEATH QUICK
Eg. Zinc Phosphide
Associated problems: bait
shyness and poison
aversion
CHRONIC TOXICANTS
DEATH GRADUAL
Eg. All Anticoagulant
Rodenticides
MULTIPLE DOSES
Eg. Warfarin, Fumarin,
Coumatetralyl,
Chlorophacinone etc.
Associated problem is
development of resistance
SINGLE DOSE
Eg. Bromadiolone,
Brodifacoum,
Flocoumafen,
Difethialone
Trapping
Biological
control
Habitat
modification
Ultrasound and
electromagnetic
devices
Rodent Proofing
Sanitation
Electric fencing
Sterilant,
attractants,
repellents etc
12
14. Management
▪ Right time harvesting/ optimum moisture content in grains
▪ Cleanliness is the prime important step
▪ Undisturbed conditions for a long time encourage
▪ Avoid formation of Heat/ hot spots
▪ Isolation of old stocks from new stocks
▪ Insects and mites are the vectors of microbes
▪ Temperature management -temperature below 20oC and
above 40oC with dry weather will discourage the
colonisation
▪ Dry heat at 65˚C for 6 days or dipping in hot water
treatment at 52–55˚C.
▪ Seeds can also be treated with fungicides such as Dithane
M-45 and Benlate at the rate of 3g per kg
14
18. DETECTION/ DIAGNOSIS
I. Conventional methods
Visual inspection
Probe sampling and trap method
Visual lures and pheromones
Berlese funnel method
Uric acid method
Hidden infestation detector
II. Modern methods
a. Conductance based methods
b. Olfactory based methods
c. Electromagnetic-spectrum based methods
Imaging
methods
Machine vision within visible domain, X-
ray imaging, Thermal imaging
Non-imaging
methods
Electronic grain probe insect counter
(EGPIC), Near-infrared spectroscopy
(NIRS)
d. Acoustic detection (Signal processing)
Window function and filtering, Acoustic spectrum
features, Acoustic temporal pattern features
TNAU traps
Probes
18
19. Low-cost insect trap
Used for safe storage of food grains during daily
consumption by the household
Suitable for bin holding 25 - 50 kg grains
1,50,000 units sold
Stack probe trap
UV light trap
https://www.mohantrap.com/
Acoustic Detection System
Probe & signal processing unit
Bin filled with Chickpea
01-12-2022 guru.pn@icar.gov.in
22. Silos are better option for bulk storage of grains due to their
various benefits like assured shelf life of grain for 2-3 years,
easier grain management, 1/3rd land requirement compared to
traditional warehouses and no risk of pilferage.
SILO STORAGE
01-12-2022 guru.pn@icar.gov.in
23. Grain Dams/ Grain rings
Grain dams are the most economical way of storing grain. With its simple design and
rugged material it is ideally suited for all sizes of farmers
General structure: Mesh - 6mm Galvanized Steel; PVC - 550gsm UV Stabilized PVC
01-12-2022 guru.pn@icar.gov.in
24. Different hermetic bags available in Indian markets
▪ Concept of deoxygenation inside storage structure
▪ For instance: Depletion of O2 (< 3%) and elevation
of CO2 (> 50%) exposure for >24 h, 100% mortality
of most common insects
▪ Also termed as airtight storage or sealed storage or
sacrificial sealed storage
Cocoons
Reduction in O2 concentration,
elevate the CO2
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25. ICAR-CIPHET_Hermetically sealed storage
structure for pulses (1 tonne capacity)
Test insect Stage of insect Concentration
Exposure/
residence time
Mortality
Callosobruchus
maculatus
Adult 15 % 24 h 100 %
Eggs 40 % 72 h 100 %
Larva 50 % 48 h 100 %
Adult 60 % 96 h 100 %
01-12-2022 guru.pn@icar.gov.in
26. Silobag is made of a three layer HDPE (high density
polyethylene) film (white-black) with UV protection
Silo
Bag
• 3 layers of coextruded polyethylene, 250 microns thick.
• 2 white layers to make the bag weather proof and act as a UV Filter
• 3rd layer is black and protects the grain from the sunlight
Each bag is about 200 feet
long, 9 feet in diameter (60
meters x 3 meters) and can
store around 200 tonnes.
One acre can store
2,000 tonnes of
grain in silo bags.
01-12-2022 guru.pn@icar.gov.in
27. Thermal Technologies
• Heat or thermal treatment inhibits the activity of
lipoxygenase and lipase enzymes, thereby
decreasing the rancidity and moisture content of
the grains, expanding the shelf-life.
• Heat treatment of grains has been used to
denature proteins, modify aroma, taste and
structure of starch granules, and also to reduce the
microbial load.
Different thermal techniques
✓ Microwave,
✓ Radio frequency,
✓ Infrared,
✓ Ohmic heating,
✓ Oscillating magnetic field
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28. Dielectric heating
▪ Short wavelength electromagnetic radiations,
which exhibit a protective effect on the grains
from insects, field fungi and storage fungi.
▪ Since microwave works on the dielectric
effect, it only warms up the areas containing
dielectric fluids (e.g., water) causing regions of
hot spots.
MICROWAVES RADIO-FREQUENCY
Mechanism of heating by microwaves and radiofrequency
▪ A non-ionizing electromagnetic wave of upto 11
m wavelength with a frequency range of 1 to 300
MHz.
▪ commonly used food processing technology for
drying, baking, sterilization and pasteurization as
well as thawing of frozen foods
▪ Dissociative ions in foods also produce heat
through ionic conduction whereby the ions
oscillate forward and backward in the food
creating friction and heat.
Vadivambal et al., 2007 –
commercial treatments
01-12-2022
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30. Moisture plays a role
Insect mortality depends on
• Passing load
• Microwave power
• Grain layer
• Grain moisture
• Types of insects
• Pre-conditioning
• Post treatments
• Packaging
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32. Prophylactic treatment
These insecticide treatments are to prevent the insect infestation and
cross infestation. However, insecticide should not be sprayed on food
grain directly
Curative treatment
Mixing of chemicals is only
recommended for the grains meant for
seed purpose only. Normally pyrethrum
dust is used as seed protectant
Aluminium phosphide @ 3 tablets of 3g
each i.e., 9g/tonne of grains
Name of the
chemical
Dilution Dosages with
diluted solution
Periodicity
Malathion 50% EC 1:100 3 L per 100 m2 15 days (21 days
in winter)
Deltamethrin 2.5%
WP
40 gms / L 3 L per 100 m2 90 days (3
months)
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33. Pest management in stored
products
Prevention,
monitoring and
hygiene
Sprays –
space and
surface
Fumigation
33
34. Manual of fumigation for insect control
by E.J. Bond
Research Centre
Agriculture Canada
London, Ontario
Canada
Food and agriculture organization of the united
nations (FAO)
34
35. FUMIGANT
Pesticides available as gases, liquids
and in solid preparations but act on
insects and other pests in gaseous/
vapour phase
FUMIGATION
The action of releasing a toxic
chemical in the gaseous state to
control targeted pests
FUMIGANT CONCENTRATION
The actual amount of fumigant
present in the air space in any given
part of the structure/ enclosure
being fumigated at any given time
Expressed as ppm or g/m
FUMIGANTS ARE NON-SELECTIVE
PPA/DPPQS accredited persons
alone can undertake any
fumigation
FOR APPROVED FUMIGATOR
SERVICES
Certificates of training from NIPHM/
CFTRI/ IGMRI
https://plantquarantineindia.nic.in/pqispub/html/Accreditated.htm
35
36. Changes in gas
concentration during the
three phases of a typical
fumigation
A - Fumigant generation and
distribution
B - Exposure period
C - Aeration period
Gastight structure
Leaky structure
36
37. Fumigants : Regd. In India
Fumigant Formulations
Phosphine (Aluminium
phosphide)
56% & 6%
Tablets,
56% & 77.5%
Granules
Phosphine (Magnesium
phosphide)
56%
Methyl bromide 99% L, 98% (+2%
CPN)
EDCT 3:1 mixture
Formulation Gross weight (g) PH3 released (g)
AlP tablets, 56% 3 1
AlP powder, 56% 10
34
3
11
AlP powder,
77.5%
125-4400 56-2000
MgP plates, 56% 117 33
AlP : Regd. In India
37
38. Properties of Phosphine Gas
Chemical formula PH3
IUPAC name Phosphine, Phosphane
Boiling point -87.4°C
Freezing point - 133.5°C
Molecular weight 34.04
Specific gravity:
Gas (air 1)
Liquid (water 1)
1.214
0.746
Latent heat of vaporization 102.6 Cal/g
Solubility in water 26 ml/100 ml at 17°C
Lowest explosion point 1.79 percent by volume in air
Method of evolution as fumigant From the preparations of aluminium
phosphide
Odour Pure phosphine is odourless.
However, garlic or carbide odour is
detectable due to impurities such as
diphosphines and arsine.
38
39. NSPM-11 Methyl Bromide Fumigation
NSPM-12 Guidelines for Accreditation of Fumigation Agency for
undertaking Mbr Fumigation
NSPM-22 Aluminium Phosphide Fumigation
ISPM-15 Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade
Standard
no.
Title Scope of
IS 4810 :
1968
Specification for fumigation sheets and covers,
rubberized
PCD 13
(Petroleum, Coal and
Related Products
Department)
IS 13217 :
1991
Thermoplastics fumigation covers PCD 12
IS 7247 :
1974
Code of
practice
for
fumigati
on of
agricultu
ral
produce
Part 1 methyl bromide FAD 16 (Food and
Agriculture)
Part 2 Ethylene dibromide FAD 16
Part 3 aluminium phosphide FAD 16
Part 4 ethylene dichloride and
carbon tetrachloride mixture
FAD 16
Part 5 general requirements FAD 16
IS 7716 :
1975
Method for testing efficacy of fumigation for
disinfestation of grains in domestic bins
FAD 16
Refer to,
• Labels and standards
• Applicator manual
• SDS
39
45. Live insects are found after fumigation:
Probable reasons
▪ Inadequate dose
▪ Inadequate exposure period
▪ Fumigant concentration not retained
adequately
▪ Insects are resistant to the fumigant
▪ Insects entered after fumigation
Post-application
procedures
▪ Monitoring of gas
concentrations
▪ Aeration of the fumigated
object
▪ Disposal of wastes
45
46. Fumigation sequence of work
❑ INSPECTION of premises to be fumigated and other preparations
❑ PLAN before execution
❑ SEALING of the object to be fumigated
❑ APPLICATION of the gas and closing of the premises
❑ MONITORING of the fumigated
❑ AERATION
❑ WASTE DISPOSAL
46
47. Fumigation sheets
▪ High gas tightness (including seams)
▪ Gas loss must be <1mg PH3/day/m2
▪ Resistance to tearing
▪ Light enough to handle (≤150gsm)
▪ Resistance to UV light, temperature (for
outdoor use)
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48. Phosphine is flammable at
24.9 g/m3 or 17900 ppm or 1.8% v/v
Flash point
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49. Use phosphine judiciously
▪ Follow good fumigation practices
▪ Ensure effective sealing and gas retention
▪ Use gas monitor giving reliable readings
▪ Adequate exposure period is must
▪ Achieve target terminal/ end concentration
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50. Fumigants – Scenario in present day
Fumigants Global status
Phosphine Worldwide use
Methyl bromide QPS and CUE
Sulfuryl fluoride Many countries
Ethyl formate Several countries
HCN Europe
Ethane dintrile Australia, New
Zealand
Propylene oxide USA, Japan
50