How to Safeguard Pulse Grains?
Published by After their harvest farmers have always a problem in safe guarding their produce, the pulses. The same is the problem with bulk buyers, either for family use or commercial purpose. In either cases, it is the pulse beetles which cause a major problem.
Pulse beetles are also known as bruchids. They are small and stout beetles that lay eggs on the maturing pods in the fields or in stored dry grains. The larvae that emerge out of the eggs bore into the grains and start feeding on them. Thus the Bruchids infestation of pulses that starts in the fields itself is carried into storage too.
To avoid such a risk freshly threshed grains should be dried in the sun for 3-5 days on a concrete floor, or on a black tarpaulin or black polyethylene sheet.
The grain temperature gets raised to 52 degrees Celsius. As bruchids are sensitive to heat and temperature, the raised temperature will effectively kill all the life stages of bruchids. Then while storing, whether on a small or large scale, a sand layer has to be applied.
As it fills the inter-granular spaces, the reproductive behavior of bruchids is thoroughly checkmated. Paper, plastic or cloth sheet should not be used between the sand layer and the grain surface. Jute bags also should never be used to storage. The sand layer applied in this manner could effectively protect pulses against bruchid infestation.
Whenever grain is required for consumption the required quantity can be taken out by pushing aside the sand layer, but it has to be relaid over the grain surface.
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