EFFECT OF GRAIN MOISTURE CONTENT ON THE QUALITY PARAMETERS OF CORN, STORED IN HERMETIC PLASTIC BAGS

The current task of economical and reliable storage of wet and raw grain for further drying using own equipment, can be solved using silo bags, which provide grain storage in sealed conditions. After filling dry or wet grain silo bag is tightly closed at both ends, which stops the oxygen flow. During the "breath" of grain, the oxygen concentration decreases and the carbon dioxide concentration increases. Due to shortage of oxygen, insects and aerobic microflora die. This technology gives satisfactory results for storage of dry grain and wet grain feed (silage). At this stage, there is a task to study and determine the optimal and safe for quality modes of storage of raw and wet grain for further drying and export. Especially important this issue is to store corn, because of the maximum drying need in comparison with other crops. The results of the study of the effect of moisture content of corn on the duration of grain storage in silobags are presented. For the experiment silobags of Budissa production with the ability to store 180 tons of corn were used. The object of the study was corn hybrid DKC 4490 (Monsanto), the crop of 2014, grown in the Zhytomyr region. Corn kernels were matured, large, dent, deep yellow color, have brittle endosperm with powdery consistency, a germ was increased, odor and color were typical for a healthy grain. Grain laying period - early November 2014. The plot of silobags of dry and wet grain has been placed on preprepared field after corn harvesting. Samples were taken periodically for a full technical analysis of grain. Additionally, the temperature and moisture distribution were checked in the different layers of the grain mass. The presence and concentration of CO2 was tested organoleptically. The research results revealed that the temperature of the grain mass was uneven in different layers of the grain mass. In the central layer temperature decreased from +10 ° C to +6 ° C. The temperature of the outer layer has undergone a significant effect of ambient temperature. There was no increase in temperature caused by biological activity of grains, even raw grains for early signs of damage. Moisture content decreased partly within a safe period due to redistribution and afterripening of grain, and of the peripheral layers of grain - more than the central part. Early grain spoilage increased free moisture content due to the intensification of grain breathing and decomposition of organic matter. Significant increase in humidity due to the migration of moisture or by the condensation on the inner surface caused by daily temperature changes were not found. When stored grain moisture content is up to 25.0% safe storage period is up to 40 days providing that the daily average ambient temperature is not higher than +6°C. If the grain moisture content is up to 21.0%, the safe storage period is up to 60 days. After this period the grain should be dried immediately to maintain quality.