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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203243
Title: Low Oxygen Storage of Farmer Stock Peanuts

Author
item Butts, Christopher - Chris
item Sanders, Timothy
item Dorner, Joe
item Lamb, Marshall

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2007
Publication Date: 6/10/2007
Citation: Butts, C.L., Sanders, T.H., Dorner, J.W., Lamb, M.C. 2007. Low Oxygen Storage of Farmer Stock Peanuts. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE). Paper No. 076220.

Interpretive Summary: Farmer stock peanuts are stored in bulk storage facilities for periods ranging from 30d to 12mo. Studies were conducted in 1/10 scale conventional and monolithic dome storage facilities located in Dawson, GA. Conventional storage was represented by four metal buildings with storage capacity of approximately 4 t each. Two were aerated with no headspace ventilation and headspace ventilation used in the other two. Dome storage consisted of four 3.6-m hemispherical domes with a 5-t storage capacity. Two were aerated throughout the storage period. The remaining two domes were aerated until the peanuts were cool, then sealed and flushed with nitrogen. Nitrogen was injected periodically to maintain O2 levels of 5% or less. During the two-year study, peanut value averaged $369/t after storage with no significant differences among conventional, aerated and low O2 dome storage. However, the change in value between load-in and bailout was different based on storage conditions. Peanuts stored in conventional storage had a 1.4% reduction in value compared to a 5.5% reduction in value for peanuts stored under low oxygen in the domes. Peanuts stored in domes and aerated throughout the storage period had an average 2.7% reduction in value, but was no different than that observed in conventional or low oxygen storage. Only 35% of the seed from low O2 storage germinated compared to 78 and 73% from conventional and aerated dome storage units.

Technical Abstract: Farmer stock peanuts are stored in bulk storage facilities for periods ranging from 30d to 12mo. Studies were conducted in 1/10 scale conventional and monolithic dome storage facilities located in Dawson, GA. Conventional storage was represented by four metal buildings with storage capacity of approximately 4 t each. Two were aerated with no headspace ventilation and headspace ventilation used in the other two. Dome storage consisted of four 3.6-m hemispherical domes with a 5-t storage capacity. Two were aerated throughout the storage period. The remaining two domes were aerated until the peanuts were cool, then sealed and flushed with nitrogen. Nitrogen was injected periodically to maintain O2 levels of 5% or less. Peanuts were loaded into storage after harvest and stored for about 290 d. Peanut quality was determined from 5-kg samples obtained during load-in and bailout. Each sample was analyzed for peanut kernel size distribution, moisture content, aflatoxin contamination, seed germination, percent free fatty acid, and peroxide. Peanut quality at bailout was compared to that at load-in. During the two-year study, peanut value averaged $369/t after storage with no significant differences among conventional, aerated and low O2 dome storage. However, the change in value between load-in and bailout was different based on storage conditions. Peanuts stored in conventional storage had a 1.4% reduction in value compared to a 5.5% reduction in value for peanuts stored under low oxygen in the domes. Peanuts stored in domes and aerated throughout the storage period had an average 2.7% reduction in value, but was no different than that observed in conventional or low oxygen storage. Only 35% of the seed from low O2 storage germinated compared to 78 and 73% from conventional and aerated dome storage units.