Evaluation of the use of organic acids in the conservation of sorghum grains (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) during storage

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the use of organic acids in storage of sorghum grains, as an efficient alternative for small and medium producers, that lack structures for artificial drying and technical storage. The grains were stored in bulk in wood boxes, for six months, consisting of five treatments: I) dried grains (13.15% of moisture), without incorporation of acids; II) humid grains (21,54% of moisture) without incorporation of acids; II-A; II-P and II-M, the latter three, with incorporation of acetic acid, propionic and the mixture of both, in the proportion of 1:1, respectively, in the dosis of 2 kg of acid per 100 kg of grains. Evaluation of grains was made at 1, 60, 120 and 180 days of storage, analysing humidity, carboydrate, crude protein, ether extract, ash, volumetric weight and incidence of insects. For the storage of 180 days, under the same environment conditions, it is concluded that: 1) the incorporation of acids at the moment of storage of humid sorghum grains allows superior preservative effects when compared to dry grains; 2) the mixture of acids, showed superior quantitative and qualitative preservative effects of the grains, followed by propionic acid, and acetic, respectively; 3) the storage of humid grains, without addition of acids, does not allow adequate grain conservation, not even for a period lesser than 60 days.