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Impact of Storage Technologies and Duration on Insect Pest Population, Post-Harvest Losses, and Seed Quality of Stored Chickpea in Ethiopia.

Muez BerheSubramanyam BhadrirajuGirma DemissieMekasha ChichaybeluFetien Abay AberaRizana MahroofJagger Harvey
Published in: Pest management science (2023)
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the most important winter season food legumes in Ethiopia. Despite being a major producer and consumer of chickpeas, Ethiopia experiences lower yields due to biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly insect pest infestations during storage. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different storage technologies and durations on the losses of stored chickpea seeds, both in terms of quantity and quality. The experiment involved five storage technologies and three durations, spanning a period of six months with data collected at two-month intervals. The results showed that the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bag, Super GrainPro (SGP) bags effectively maintained inter-granular temperature, seed moisture content, and relative humidity throughout the storage period, followed by the modified hermetic metal silo. In contrast, traditional bags exhibited a significant increase in these parameters. The PICS and SGP bags also exhibited the lowest numbers of total insect pests after six months, while the jute bag had the highest infestation. Common insect species found in the stored chickpea seeds were Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and Tribolium confusum (duVal). Furthermore, hermetic bags (PICS and SGP) demonstrated the least grain damage and weight loss, while the jute bags had relatively higher values. Seed viability was well maintained in hermetic bags but significantly decreased in traditional bags. Overall, hermetic storage technologies, such as the PICS and Super GrainPro bags, effectively suppressed insect development, reduced losses, and preserved seed viability without the need for insecticides. It is recommended that farmers use these hermetic storage bags after proper drying to enhance food security and income generation in the country. By implementing these recommendations, Ethiopia can enhance its chickpea storage practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and contribute to improved food security and economic sustainability in the chickpea sector. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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