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Post Harvesting

Post Harvesting:

Threshing
After manual harvesting, wheat is threshed either manually or mechanically. Manual threshing is, popular in a limited places including Sikkim where mechanical threshing is not popularized. In this method crop is threshed by treading with cattle on the threshing floor where as in mechanical threshing crop is threshed by using a machine called thresher which is power driven. This method is more popular in most of the places as it saves labour and time and replaces the manual threshing.

Storage
It is noticed that there is mark deterioration in weight, test, nutrients or nutritive value and germination of wheat grain when they are stored. The storage life of the wheat crop is directly related to its moisture content and store pest. Thus the grains should be thoroughly dried after harvesting and before storage and the storage pits; bins or godowns should be moisture free and should be fumigated to keep away the pests including rats.

Effect of moisture on grain quality:
 

Sl. No Moisture Percentage in grains Effect of moisture on wheat
1. 20 or over 20 Grains are soft in feel, may be easily pressed between teeth, grains start germinating if a store as such for over three days and they have little value as food or feed.
2. Between 16 and 20 Grains may be pressed easily between teeth, do not germinate but are attacked by moulds and bacteria. These grains change colour taste and nutritive value very fast and are injurious when consumed as food or feed
3. Between 13 and 16 Grains may be crushed between teeth with some pressure, they are not safe for storage as they loose lusture becomes susceptible to pest damage and they may develop sour taste along with bad smell at high temperature. Such grain loose weight at 3 to 5 percent month due to high rate of respiration.
4. Between 10 and 13 Grains may be easily crushed between teeth. They are not attacked by mould or bacteria but they become susceptible to store insect pest and pesticidal measure become essential for their safe storage.
5. Between 8 and 10 Grains are hard to be crushed between teeth; they are resistant to insect attacks. Such grains retain their weight, taste, germination and nutritive values for longer period. The grains gain weight due to absorption of water especially during wet season. They are very safe for storage.


Scientific storage of wheat grains
Wheat grain soon after harvest contains about 10 % moisture and become ideal for air tight storage. In case they are not fully dried they may be exposed to the sun so as to bring a moisture percent around 8 to 10 and then should be stored in specially designed air tight bins like Pusa Bin, Panthnagar Kothla, PKU bin, Kisan Kothi etc. to keep away the insects it is necessary to fill the containers to their capacity but in case the container is not fill it must be fumigated from time to time for the safety of grains from insect damage. The fumigation may be done by placing either Ethylene Bromide ampules or Aluminum Phosphide tablets in the grain on the top and closing the container air tight for eight days or more. These chemicals evaporate their vapors and by penetration in grain, kill the entire insect that is present in the grain. Thus the grain becomes insect free and also remains free of fresh attack in air tight container.