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Farmers in Nepal lose up to one-third of stored grain to pests and diseases. This results in food insecurity and loss of income. To mitigate these losses, farmers use several approaches including pesticide applications on stored grains. We interviewed 241 farmers in Bagmati Province, Nepal, to assess the current on-farm grain storage practices and challenges to improve postharvest management. The results show that rice was the most stored crop (median 1150 kg). About half of farmers stored for at least nine months and grain was mainly used for home consumption. Grain was stored by 66.5 and 69.8% of farmers in granaries (rice) and plastic drums (legumes), respectively. Insects were the most important challenge during storage, and farmers used pesticides to control them. Farmers were more likely to use insecticide on grain (p = 0.000) if they stored rice, used traditional granaries, and had insect damage during storage. The use of improved storage methods (e.g., hermetic bags) was very low for rice (3.5%). There is a need to improve on-farm grain storage by disseminating storage innovations to address postharvest challenges in important crops such as rice.
Pragya Kandel; Kabita Kharel; Anastasia Njoroge; Bradley Smith; Jorge Díaz-Valderrama; Ram Timilsina; Gokul Paudel; Dieudonne Baributsa. On-Farm Grain Storage and Challenges in Bagmati Province, Nepal. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7959 .
AMA StylePragya Kandel, Kabita Kharel, Anastasia Njoroge, Bradley Smith, Jorge Díaz-Valderrama, Ram Timilsina, Gokul Paudel, Dieudonne Baributsa. On-Farm Grain Storage and Challenges in Bagmati Province, Nepal. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7959.
Chicago/Turabian StylePragya Kandel; Kabita Kharel; Anastasia Njoroge; Bradley Smith; Jorge Díaz-Valderrama; Ram Timilsina; Gokul Paudel; Dieudonne Baributsa. 2021. "On-Farm Grain Storage and Challenges in Bagmati Province, Nepal." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7959.
Acoustic technology provides information difficult to obtain about stored insect behavior, physiology, abundance, and distribution. For example, acoustic detection of immature insects feeding hidden within grain is helpful for accurate monitoring because they can be more abundant than adults and be present in samples without adults. Modern engineering and acoustics have been incorporated into decision support systems for stored product insect management, but with somewhat limited use due to device costs and the skills needed to interpret the data collected. However, inexpensive modern tools may facilitate further incorporation of acoustic technology into the mainstream of pest management and precision agriculture. One such system was tested herein to describe Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adult and larval movement and feeding in stored grain. Development of improved methods to identify sounds of targeted pest insects, distinguishing them from each other and from background noise, is an active area of current research. The most powerful of the new methods may be machine learning. The methods have different strengths and weaknesses depending on the types of background noise and the signal characteristic of target insect sounds. It is likely that they will facilitate automation of detection and decrease costs of managing stored product insects in the future.
Richard Mankin; David Hagstrum; Min Guo; Panagiotis Eliopoulos; Anastasia Njoroge. Automated Applications of Acoustics for Stored Product Insect Detection, Monitoring, and Management. Insects 2021, 12, 259 .
AMA StyleRichard Mankin, David Hagstrum, Min Guo, Panagiotis Eliopoulos, Anastasia Njoroge. Automated Applications of Acoustics for Stored Product Insect Detection, Monitoring, and Management. Insects. 2021; 12 (3):259.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRichard Mankin; David Hagstrum; Min Guo; Panagiotis Eliopoulos; Anastasia Njoroge. 2021. "Automated Applications of Acoustics for Stored Product Insect Detection, Monitoring, and Management." Insects 12, no. 3: 259.
Food security is a continuing challenge in Haiti. The demand for food far exceeds local supply. As a result, Haiti imports nearly 50% of its national food needs. Postharvest management is an often neglected link in the grain value chain that has potential to improve food availability. We interviewed 214 farmers in three departments in July–August 2017 to assess postharvest handling and storage of grains and gender roles in Haiti. Results showed that among the respondents: 64% were male; 55% were over the age of 40 years; and about half had attended secondary school. Maize and beans were the most grown and stored crops. The average production for maize and beans was 288 kg and 88 kg, respectively. About 75% of the respondents stored less than 100 kg of either crop. Rodents and insects were the main causes of loss during storage. Farmers who produced more grain, stored longer, and experienced losses during drying and seed storage were more likely to use insecticides on stored products. Postharvest management practices were gendered at the lower end of the value chain; where women played a key role in marketing the grain. Addressing postharvest management challenges, through targeted interventions, to increase food availability while investing in maize and bean production can improve food security in Haiti.
Hannah Quellhorst; Anastasia Njoroge; Taisha Venort; Dieudonne Baributsa. Postharvest Management of Grains in Haiti and Gender Roles. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4608 .
AMA StyleHannah Quellhorst, Anastasia Njoroge, Taisha Venort, Dieudonne Baributsa. Postharvest Management of Grains in Haiti and Gender Roles. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (11):4608.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHannah Quellhorst; Anastasia Njoroge; Taisha Venort; Dieudonne Baributsa. 2020. "Postharvest Management of Grains in Haiti and Gender Roles." Sustainability 12, no. 11: 4608.
Modified atmospheres such as hermetic storage are widely used for the control of stored grain insect pests. To improve their effectiveness, there is need to better understand insect responses to low-oxygen environments. Adult Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) on cowpea and Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on wheat were exposed to hypoxia treatments consisting of 1, 3, and 5% oxygen levels for 14 d. Acoustic activity was monitored during the experiment, and insect mortality and grain quality were examined immediately after the hypoxia treatments. Adult emergence was assessed 45 d post-treatment. All three hypoxia treatments eliminated acoustic activity of both species within 4 d. There was neither insect survival for both species nor significant grain damage immediately after 14-d exposure to hypoxia treatments. No adult insects emerged 45 d post-exposure on grains maintained at 1% oxygen level for 14 d. However, at 3 and 5% oxygen levels, there were eggs on cowpea, holes in wheat, and emerging adults for both insect species 45 d post-exposure. Although insect activity ceased within 4 d when hypoxia was maintained below 5%, there is need to explore exposure beyond 14 d for 3 and 5% oxygen levels, to ensure to avoid potential adult emergence from eggs and other insect life stages post-treatments. Maintaining 3-5% hypoxia conditions for a longer duration would ensure insufficient oxygen is available for progeny development.
Anastasia W Njoroge; Richard W Mankin; Bradley Smith; Dieudonne Baributsa. Effects of Hypoxia on Acoustic Activity of Two Stored-Product Pests, Adult Emergence, and Grain Quality. Journal of Economic Entomology 2019, 112, 1989 -1996.
AMA StyleAnastasia W Njoroge, Richard W Mankin, Bradley Smith, Dieudonne Baributsa. Effects of Hypoxia on Acoustic Activity of Two Stored-Product Pests, Adult Emergence, and Grain Quality. Journal of Economic Entomology. 2019; 112 (4):1989-1996.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasia W Njoroge; Richard W Mankin; Bradley Smith; Dieudonne Baributsa. 2019. "Effects of Hypoxia on Acoustic Activity of Two Stored-Product Pests, Adult Emergence, and Grain Quality." Journal of Economic Entomology 112, no. 4: 1989-1996.
Grain production is an important component of food security in Kenya but due to environmental conditions that favor rapid growth of insect populations, farmers and other agricultural stakeholders face ongoing and novel challenges from crop and stored product pest insects. To assist development of methods to reduce economic losses from stored product insect pests in Kenya, acoustic, visual, and pitfall trap surveys were conducted in five grain storage warehouses. Two commercially available acoustic systems successfully detected the pests of greatest economic importance, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) and Prostephanus truncatus (Horn). Other insects of lesser economic importance also were observed in the visual surveys, including Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). This study demonstrated that the use of acoustic technology with visual surveys and pitfall traps can help managers to identify and target infestations within their warehouses, enabling them to reduce postharvest losses. With most warehouses being located in relatively noisy urban or peri-urban areas, background noise considerations are being incorporated into the design of future acoustic detectors for stored pest infestations. Kenya must import grain yearly to meet consumption needs; however, if the current yearly postharvest losses of 20–30% in warehouses decreased, import costs could be reduced considerably.
Anastasia Njoroge; Hippolyte Affognon; Uwe Richter; Oliver Hensel; Barukh Rohde; Davie Chen; Richard Mankin. Acoustic, Pitfall Trap, and Visual Surveys of Stored Product Insect Pests in Kenyan Warehouses. Insects 2019, 10, 105 .
AMA StyleAnastasia Njoroge, Hippolyte Affognon, Uwe Richter, Oliver Hensel, Barukh Rohde, Davie Chen, Richard Mankin. Acoustic, Pitfall Trap, and Visual Surveys of Stored Product Insect Pests in Kenyan Warehouses. Insects. 2019; 10 (4):105.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasia Njoroge; Hippolyte Affognon; Uwe Richter; Oliver Hensel; Barukh Rohde; Davie Chen; Richard Mankin. 2019. "Acoustic, Pitfall Trap, and Visual Surveys of Stored Product Insect Pests in Kenyan Warehouses." Insects 10, no. 4: 105.
Acoustic monitoring was applied to consider hermetic exposure durations and oxygen levels required to stop adult Callosobruchus maculatus activity and economic damage on cowpea. A 15-d study was conducted with six treatments of 25, 50, and 100 C. maculatus adults in 500 and 1000 mL jars using acoustic probes inserted through stoppers sealing the jars. Acoustic activity as a result of locomotion, mating, and egg-laying was measured by identifying sound impulses with frequency spectra representative of known insect sounds, and counting trains (bursts) of impulses separated by intervals of <200 ms, that typically are produced only by insects. By the end of the first week of storage in all treatments, oxygen levels declined to levels below 4%, which has been demonstrated to cause mortality in previous studies. Concomitantly, insect sound burst rates dropped below an acoustic detection threshold of 0.02 bursts s−1, indicating that the insects had ceased feeding. Statistically significant relationships were obtained between two different measures of the acoustic activity and the residual oxygen level. Based on the experimental results, a simple equation can be used to estimate the time needed for oxygen to decline to levels that limit insect feeding damage and thus grain losses in hermetic storage containers of different insect population levels and various volumes.
Anastasia W. Njoroge; Richard W. Mankin; Bradley W. Smith; Dieudonne Baributsa. Oxygen Consumption and Acoustic Activity of Adult Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) during Hermetic Storage. Insects 2018, 9, 45 .
AMA StyleAnastasia W. Njoroge, Richard W. Mankin, Bradley W. Smith, Dieudonne Baributsa. Oxygen Consumption and Acoustic Activity of Adult Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) during Hermetic Storage. Insects. 2018; 9 (2):45.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasia W. Njoroge; Richard W. Mankin; Bradley W. Smith; Dieudonne Baributsa. 2018. "Oxygen Consumption and Acoustic Activity of Adult Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) during Hermetic Storage." Insects 9, no. 2: 45.
Hermetic storage is of interest to farmers and warehouse managers as a method to control insect pests in small storage facilities. To develop improved understanding of effects of hermetic storage on insect pest activity and mortality over time, oxygen levels, acoustic signals, and observations of visual movement were recorded from replicates of 25, 50, and 100 adult Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) hermetically sealed in 500- and 1,000-ml glass jars. Recordings were done for 28 d; twice daily for the first 6 d and twice weekly thereafter. Insect sounds were analyzed as short bursts (trains) of impulses with spectra that matched average spectra (profiles) of previously verified insect sound impulses. Oxygen consumption was highest in treatments of 100 insects/500-ml jar and lowest in 25/1000-ml jars. The rates of bursts per insect, number of impulses per burst, and rates of burst impulses per insect decreased as the residual oxygen levels decreased in each treatment. Activity rates <0.02 bursts s-1, the acoustic detection threshold, typically occurred as oxygen fell below 5%. Mortality was observed at 2% levels. The time to obtain these levels of insect activity and oxygen depletion ranged from 3-14 d depending on initial infestation levels. Acoustic detection made it possible to estimate the duration required for reduction of insect activity to levels resulting in negligible damage to the stored product under hermetic conditions. Such information is of value to farmers and warehouse managers attempting to reduce pest damage in stored crops.
A W Njoroge; R W Mankin; B W Smith; D Baributsa. Effects of Hermetic Storage on Adult Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Acoustic Activity Patterns and Mortality. Journal of Economic Entomology 2017, 110, 2707 -2715.
AMA StyleA W Njoroge, R W Mankin, B W Smith, D Baributsa. Effects of Hermetic Storage on Adult Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Acoustic Activity Patterns and Mortality. Journal of Economic Entomology. 2017; 110 (6):2707-2715.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA W Njoroge; R W Mankin; B W Smith; D Baributsa. 2017. "Effects of Hermetic Storage on Adult Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Acoustic Activity Patterns and Mortality." Journal of Economic Entomology 110, no. 6: 2707-2715.
Resumen Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) es una plaga económicamente importante del frijol común Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae) en los trópicos y subtrópicos. Las larvas son crípticas y pasan la mayor parte de su tiempo de desarrollo dentro de las semillas de frijol. Su presencia es casi imperceptible a excepción de los agujeros circulares de salida creados por las larvas del último instar cuando salen como adultos. Se consideró una hipótesis de que los medios acústicos fácilmente disponibles pueden ser utilizados para detectar larvas y adultos en frijoles almacenados. Se realizaron experimentos de laboratorio con una cámara anecoica para caracterizar sus movimientos y sonidos de alimentación y estimar si se podían distinguir del ruido de fondo en entornos de almacenamiento. Las larvas producían impulsos sonoros de insectos de baja amplitud que ocurrían frecuentemente en trenes (ráfagas) de 2 o más impulsos (promedio = 3.6). Los adultos mostraron impulsos de baja amplitud, aunque a una tasa mayor que las larvas y hubo significativamente menos impulsos por ráfaga. Estas características de las señales acústicas fueron de utilidad para la detección en tiempo real de la infección por A. obtectus y la discriminación del ruido de fondo en frijol común almacenado en el África subsahariana. El uso de tal tecnología en el futuro, especialmente si se pueden reducir aún más sus costos, puede contribuir a los esfuerzos para aliviar el hambre y la pobreza en la región.
Anastasia Wanjiru Njoroge; Hippolyte Affognon; Christopher Mutungi; Uwe Richter; Oliver Hensel; Barukh Rohde; Richard W. Mankin. Bioacoustics ofAcanthoscelides obtectus(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) onPhaseolus vulgaris(Fabaceae). Florida Entomologist 2017, 100, 109 -115.
AMA StyleAnastasia Wanjiru Njoroge, Hippolyte Affognon, Christopher Mutungi, Uwe Richter, Oliver Hensel, Barukh Rohde, Richard W. Mankin. Bioacoustics ofAcanthoscelides obtectus(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) onPhaseolus vulgaris(Fabaceae). Florida Entomologist. 2017; 100 (1):109-115.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasia Wanjiru Njoroge; Hippolyte Affognon; Christopher Mutungi; Uwe Richter; Oliver Hensel; Barukh Rohde; Richard W. Mankin. 2017. "Bioacoustics ofAcanthoscelides obtectus(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) onPhaseolus vulgaris(Fabaceae)." Florida Entomologist 100, no. 1: 109-115.
Frequency spectra and timing patterns of brief, 1–10 ms broadband sound impulses produced by movement and feeding activities of Prostephanus truncatus and Sitophilus zeamais last instars and adults in maize were investigated to find spectral and temporal pattern information useful for distinguishing among these species and stages. The impulse spectra were categorized into five different types of frequency patterns (profiles), designated Broadband, HighF, MidF1, MidF2 and LowF to indicate differences in their peak energies and broadness of frequency range. Groups (trains) of three or more closely spaced impulses, termed bursts, were observed to occur frequently in all recordings, as has been reported for sounds produced by other insects. Mean rates of bursts, mean counts of impulses per burst, and mean rates of impulses in bursts were calculated and compared among the two species and stages. The counts of broadband and MidF2 impulses per burst and the rates of broadband and MidF2 impulses in bursts were significantly different for adult than for 4th instar S. zeamais and either stage of P. truncatus. These findings can be useful in developing an acoustic sensor system for automated detection of hidden insects including P. truncatus and S. zeamais in bulk storage warehouses. The findings are discussed in relation to different movement and feeding behavior patterns that have been identified in these important pests.
A.W. Njoroge; H. Affognon; Christopher Mutungi; B. Rohde; U. Richter; O. Hensel; R.W. Mankin. Frequency and time pattern differences in acoustic signals produced by Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in stored maize. Journal of Stored Products Research 2016, 69, 31 -40.
AMA StyleA.W. Njoroge, H. Affognon, Christopher Mutungi, B. Rohde, U. Richter, O. Hensel, R.W. Mankin. Frequency and time pattern differences in acoustic signals produced by Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in stored maize. Journal of Stored Products Research. 2016; 69 ():31-40.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA.W. Njoroge; H. Affognon; Christopher Mutungi; B. Rohde; U. Richter; O. Hensel; R.W. Mankin. 2016. "Frequency and time pattern differences in acoustic signals produced by Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in stored maize." Journal of Stored Products Research 69, no. : 31-40.
H.D. Affognon; A.W. Njoroge; C.M. Mutungi; J. Manono; D. Baributsa; L.L. Murdock. Storage of pigeonpea grain (Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp.) in hermetic triple-layer bags prevents losses caused byCallosobruchusmaculatus(F.) (Coleoptera:Bruchidae). Acta Horticulturae 2016, 245 -252.
AMA StyleH.D. Affognon, A.W. Njoroge, C.M. Mutungi, J. Manono, D. Baributsa, L.L. Murdock. Storage of pigeonpea grain (Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp.) in hermetic triple-layer bags prevents losses caused byCallosobruchusmaculatus(F.) (Coleoptera:Bruchidae). Acta Horticulturae. 2016; (1120):245-252.
Chicago/Turabian StyleH.D. Affognon; A.W. Njoroge; C.M. Mutungi; J. Manono; D. Baributsa; L.L. Murdock. 2016. "Storage of pigeonpea grain (Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp.) in hermetic triple-layer bags prevents losses caused byCallosobruchusmaculatus(F.) (Coleoptera:Bruchidae)." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1120: 245-252.
Anastasia Wanjiru Njoroge. Bioacoustics of some post-harvest insect pests. 2016 International Congress of Entomology 2016, 1 .
AMA StyleAnastasia Wanjiru Njoroge. Bioacoustics of some post-harvest insect pests. 2016 International Congress of Entomology. 2016; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasia Wanjiru Njoroge. 2016. "Bioacoustics of some post-harvest insect pests." 2016 International Congress of Entomology , no. : 1.
Fumigated dry common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) that were artificially infested with Acanthoscelides obtectus Say, and others that were not artificially infested, were stored in hermetic triple-layer PICS (Lela Agro, Kano, Nigeria) or woven polypropylene (PP) bags for 6 mo at ambient laboratory temperature conditions of 22.6 ± 1.9°C and 60.1 ± 4.3% relative humidity. In an additional trial, beans contained in PP bags were treated with Actellic Super dust before introducing A. obtectus. Moisture content, number of live adult A. obtectus, seed damage, weight loss, and seed germination were determined at monthly intervals. At 6 mo, beans stored in PICS bags retained higher moisture than those stored in PP bags, but in all treatments the moisture level remained below that recommended for safe storage of beans. In the PICS bags, proliferation of A. obtectus did not proceed and at 6 mo, beans stored in these bags did not have insect-inflicted seed damage or weight loss. In contrast, seed damage and weight loss in PP bags exceeded economic threshold after 1 mo in the absence of Actellic Super dust (Syngenta Crop protection AG, Basle, Switzerland), and after 2 mo in the presence of it. Germination of beans stored in PP bags decreased greatly whereas the beans stored in PICS bags did not show reduced germination. Chemical free storage of common beans in PICS bags protects them against damage by A. obtectus.
Christopher Mutungi; Hippolyte Affognon; Anastasia W Njoroge; J. Manono; D. Baributsa; L. L. Murdock. Triple-Layer Plastic Bags Protect Dry Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) Against Damage byAcanthoscelides obtectus(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) During Storage. Journal of Economic Entomology 2015, 108, 2479 -2488.
AMA StyleChristopher Mutungi, Hippolyte Affognon, Anastasia W Njoroge, J. Manono, D. Baributsa, L. L. Murdock. Triple-Layer Plastic Bags Protect Dry Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) Against Damage byAcanthoscelides obtectus(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) During Storage. Journal of Economic Entomology. 2015; 108 (5):2479-2488.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristopher Mutungi; Hippolyte Affognon; Anastasia W Njoroge; J. Manono; D. Baributsa; L. L. Murdock. 2015. "Triple-Layer Plastic Bags Protect Dry Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) Against Damage byAcanthoscelides obtectus(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) During Storage." Journal of Economic Entomology 108, no. 5: 2479-2488.
Christopher Mutungi; Hippolyte Affognon; Anastasia W Njoroge; D. Baributsa; L.L. Murdock. Storage of mung bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) and pigeonpea grains (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp) in hermetic triple-layer bags stops losses caused by Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Journal of Stored Products Research 2014, 58, 39 -47.
AMA StyleChristopher Mutungi, Hippolyte Affognon, Anastasia W Njoroge, D. Baributsa, L.L. Murdock. Storage of mung bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) and pigeonpea grains (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp) in hermetic triple-layer bags stops losses caused by Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Journal of Stored Products Research. 2014; 58 ():39-47.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristopher Mutungi; Hippolyte Affognon; Anastasia W Njoroge; D. Baributsa; L.L. Murdock. 2014. "Storage of mung bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) and pigeonpea grains (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp) in hermetic triple-layer bags stops losses caused by Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)." Journal of Stored Products Research 58, no. : 39-47.
Clean shelled maize was stored in woven polypropylene (PP) or triple layer polyethylene (PICS™) bags in the presence of Prostephanus truncatus Horn (PP1; PICS1) or absence of it (PP0; PICS0) at ambient conditions for six months. Moisture content, live insect population, grain damage, weight loss, and germination were analyzed on a monthly basis. Temperature and relative humidity in both PICS- and PP-bag setups were monitored, as well as the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the PICS bags. Overall, maize stored in PICS bags had significantly lower (P < 0.05) moisture content than maize stored in PP bags. Storage in PICS bag slowed growth of P. truncatus populations and blocked infestation from the surrounding storage environment. On the contrary, PP bags permitted profuse build-up of insect population and cross-infestation. At six months, grain damage was 0.0%, 3.4%, 50.5% and 73.9%, corresponding to weight loss of 0.0%, 2.0%, 36.3%, and 47.7% in PICS0, PICS1, PP0 and PP1, respectively. Germination of maize stored in PP bags dropped from 91.1% to 37.0% and 12.7% in PP0 and PP1, respectively, whereas germination of maize stored in PICS bags dropped only marginally and reached 78.1% and 71.0% in PICS0 and PICS1, respectively, in six months. Without extreme loss of grain viability, a huge decrease in insect infestation, grain damage and weight loss is achieved by storing maize in PICS bag even under P. truncatus endemic conditions.
Anastasia W Njoroge; H.D. Affognon; Christopher Mutungi; J. Manono; P.O. Lamuka; L.L. Murdock. Triple bag hermetic storage delivers a lethal punch to Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in stored maize. Journal of Stored Products Research 2014, 58, 12 -19.
AMA StyleAnastasia W Njoroge, H.D. Affognon, Christopher Mutungi, J. Manono, P.O. Lamuka, L.L. Murdock. Triple bag hermetic storage delivers a lethal punch to Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in stored maize. Journal of Stored Products Research. 2014; 58 ():12-19.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnastasia W Njoroge; H.D. Affognon; Christopher Mutungi; J. Manono; P.O. Lamuka; L.L. Murdock. 2014. "Triple bag hermetic storage delivers a lethal punch to Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in stored maize." Journal of Stored Products Research 58, no. : 12-19.