Maintaining quality parameters of agricultural grains during post-harvest treatment and storage period

Mehdi Layegh, MSc.

Master's thesis

Abstract:

ABSTRACT All around the globe, the loss of grain during the storage phase constitutes a significant element in postharvest losses, representing a primary cause of food insecurity for smallholder farmers. Small reductions in grain damage caused by transportation of the grains are significant. Since grain undergoes multiple handling steps during postharvest processing, any accumulated damage can be substantial. Therefore, minimizing damage at each stage contributes to a higher overall yield and ultimately increases grain market production. The diploma thesis consists of two parts. The first part is extracted from professional literature and focuses briefly on the description of the postharvest line. The second part, which is experimental, reveals that grain losses on two common types of conveyors which were measured in the chosen farm in the middle part of the Czech Republic. This diploma thesis examines how grain quality is affected after harvest, focusing on damage to the outer layer. Furthermore, it is aimed to assess grain damage caused by multiple common types of conveyors, the preferred methods for horizontal grain movement in grain processing facilities. Generally, these conveyors are known for minimizing damage to grain kernels during reception, treatment, and storage. The amount of fragments and total mechanical damage to the grain with the belt conveyor was almost 4-5 times smaller than chain conveyor and this numbers can raise when it is working below the nominal efficiency and full capacity of chain conveyor. It is highly recommended to use a belt conveyor where it is possible in postharvest line, due to the minimum damage to the grains, and simplicity of this type of conveyor.

Keywords

postharvest treatment, transporting routes, storage losses, Quality of grain

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 30. 3. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 20. 5. 2024
• Supervisor: Ing. Jiří Bradna, Ph.D.
• Reader: Jan Malaťák, doc. Ing.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Engineering

Master programme:
Technology and Environmental Engineering