Mathematical modeling and multivariate analysis applied earliest soybean harvest associated drying and storage conditions and influences on physicochemical grain quality.

Anticipating the harvest period of soybean crops can impact on the post-harvest processes. This study aimed to evaluate early soybean harvest associated drying and storage conditions on the physicochemical soybean quality using of mathematical modeling and multivariate analysis. The soybeans were harvested with a moisture content of 18 and 23% (d.b.) and subjected to drying in a continuous dryer at 80, 100, and 120 °C. The drying kinetics and volumetric shrinkage modeling were evaluated. Posteriorly, the soybean was stored at different packages and temperatures for 8 months to evaluate the physicochemical properties. After standardizing the variables, the data were submitted to cluster analysis. For this, we use Euclidean distance and Ward's hierarchical method. Then defining the groups, we constructed a graph containing the dispersion of the values of the variables and their respective Pearson correlations for each group. The mathematical models proved suitable to describe the drying kinetics. Besides, the effective diffusivity obtained was 4.9 × 10-10 m2 s-1 promoting a volumetric shrinkage of the grains and influencing the reduction of physicochemical quality. It was observed that soybean harvested at 23% moisture, dried at 80 °C, and stored at a temperature below 23 °C maintained its oil content (25.89%), crude protein (35.69%), and lipid acidity (5.54 mL). In addition, it is to note that these correlations' magnitude was substantially more remarkable for the treatments allocated to the G2 group. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity was negatively correlated with all the physicochemical variables evaluated. Besides this, the correlation between crude protein and oil yield was positive and of high magnitude, regardless of the group formed. In conclusion, the early harvest of soybeans reduced losses in the field and increased the grain flow on the storage units. The low-temperature drying and the use of packaging technology close to environmental temperatures conserved the grain quality.

Evaluation of coatings for application in raffia big bags in conditioned storage of soybean cultivars in seed processing units.

Different regions have different environmental conditions, which may be unfavorable for the preservation of the quality of stored soybean seeds over time. Thus, it is necessary to adopt specific technologies to control the storage environment conditions. Big raffia bags are widely used for the storage of soybean seeds, however these consist of a porous, permeable material that allows the exchange of gases between the packaging and the storage environment. In an effort to find a solution to this problem, in this study we evaluated low cost big bag coating alternatives, in order to minimize the effects of temperature and intergranular humidity on stored seeds. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the quality of soybean cultivars subjected to different temperature and storage duration conditions and stored in raffia bags with or without internal coating. We used a completely randomized, three-factor (10 × 6 × 5) experimental design. We assessed 10 soybean cultivars, six storage environments, and five evaluation periods. Our results showed that seeds of the M-SOY 8866, M7110 IPRO, CD 2737 RR, and BMX DESAFIO 8473 RSF soybean cultivars preserved their physiological quality better in different storage environments. The storage duration had a cumulative effect on the negative factors that favor the deterioration of the quality of the stored seeds. The storage temperature was the main factor that affected the physiological quality of the stored seeds. The use of coated packaging was beneficial in preserving the physiological quality of stored soybean seeds; however, its effect was greater at ambient temperature than in a cold environment. The best storage environment for the preservation of the quality of the seeds was characterized by 10°C temperature conditions and the use of coated packaging, while the worst storage environment was characterized by ambient temperature conditions without the use of coated packaging. Thus, it was concluded that the use of coatings in raffia big bags can be an alternative for maintaining the quality of seeds of different soybean cultivars during storage in seed processing units.

Management of nitrogen fertilization on agronomic and nutritional characteristics in second crop corn / Manejo da fertilização nitrogenada nas características agronômicas e nutricionais do milho safrinha

Fertilization management, mainly nitrogen, is one of the factors that most directly affect corn grain yield. Nitrogen dynamics in the soil is quite complex and its main source currently used in corn production, the urea, undergo intense losses in its conventional form, mainly by volatilization and leaching. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of forms, sources, and times of nitrogen application on the second crop corn. The experiment was conducted in 2016 in the Fundação Chapadão, Chapadão do Sul, MS, Brazil. The sources conventional urea, polymer-coated urea, and foliar N (8 treatments) were used as follows: control (without N addition), conventional urea (single in V3 and split in V3 and V6), polymer-coated urea (single in V3 and split in V3 and V6), conventional urea + foliar N (conventional urea in V6 and foliar in pre-flowering), polymer-coated urea + foliar N (polymer-coated urea in V6 and foliar in pre-flowering), and foliar N (split in V6 and pre-flowering). The variables stem diameter, ear index, ear length, number of grains per row, number of rows per ear, plant height, first ear height, leaf chlorophyll index, leaf N index, leaf values of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu, 100-grain weight, and grain yield were assessed. Nitrogen application in the form of conventional urea, polymer-coated urea, and foliar N (single or split) for second crop corn does not result in distinct benefits for the crop. Thus, attention should be paid to the commercialization of the product, which has prices established according to nitrogen forms, but without result, for example, in grain yield, which in fact will compose the producer income. The applied nitrogen form and mode of application were positive only to increase the contents of Ca, Mg, Zn, and Mn in the leaves of second crop corn. Ca was favored by the use of conventional urea and split conventional urea, Mg and Mn were only benefited by foliar N application, and Zn was benefited by the use of conventional urea, split conventional urea, conventional urea + foliar N, and polymer-coated urea+foliar N.

O manejo da adubação, principalmente a nitrogenada, é um dos fatores que afetam mais diretamente a produtividade de grãos de milho. A dinâmica do nitrogênio no solo é bastante complexa e a principal fonte atualmente utilizada na produção do milho, a ureia, em sua forma convencional, sofre perdas intensas, principalmente por volatilização e lixiviação. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de formas, fontes e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio na cultura do milho segunda safra. O experimento foi conduzido no ano de 2016 na Fundação Chapadão, no município de Chapadão do Sul, MS, Brasil. Foram utilizadas as fontes ureia convencional, ureia revestida com polímero e N foliar (8 tratamentos), sendo eles: testemunha (sem adição de N); ureia convencional (todo aplicado no estádio V3) e (parcelada em V3 e V6); ureia com polímero (todo em V3) e (parcelada em V3 e V6); Ureia convencional + N foliar (ureia convencional em V6 e foliar em pré-florada); Ureia com polímero + N foliar (ureia com polímero em V6 e foliar em pré-florada) e N foliar (parcelado em V6 e pré-florada). Foram avaliados o diâmetro de colmo, índice de espiga, comprimento de espiga, número de grãos por fileira, número de fileiras por espiga, altura de plantas, altura de inserção da primeira espiga, índice de clorofila foliar, índice de N foliar, valores foliares de Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn e Cu, massa de 100 grãos e produtividade de grãos. A aplicação do nitrogênio na forma de ureia convencional, ureia com polímeros e foliar, de forma única ou parcelada, para o milho segunda safra, não resulta em benefícios distintos para a cultura. Assim, deve-se ficar atento a comercialização do produto, que tem preços estabelecidos de acordo com as formas do nitrogênio, mas sem resultado, por exemplo, na produtividade de grãos, que irá de fato compor a renda do produtor. A forma do nitrogênio aplicado e o modo de aplicação foram positivos apenas para aumentar os teores de Ca, Mg, Zn e Mn nas folhas do milho segunda safra. O Ca foi favorecido pelo uso da ureia convencional e convencional parcelada, o Mg e o Mn foram beneficiados apenas pela aplicação de N foliar, enquanto o Zn foi beneficiado pelo uso da ureia convencional, convencionalparcelada, convencional + N foliar e ureia com polímero + N foliar.

Drying and storage of corn grains for ethanol production in Brazil / Secagem e armazenamento de grãos de milho para produção de etanol no Brasil

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the effects of drying air temperature and storage conditions used in Brazil on the quality of corn grains (Zea mays L.) for ethanol production. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design in a (3x2x2) factorial arrangement (drying air temperatures of 80, 100 and 120 ºC vs. ambient storage conditions of 23 ºC / 60% RH and cooled to 10 ºC / 40% RH vs. storage time of zero and six months). The corn grains were harvested with a water content of 18.0% (w.b.). Then, they were dried in a convection/forced-air oven at different temperatures, until water content reached 12% (w.b.). After that, the grains were stored. It was concluded that the increase in drying air temperature reduced lipid content and starch percentage, decreasing ethanol yield to 38.74 L ton-1 of grains. Storage under refrigeration at 10 °C was favorable for the maintenance of lipid levels (+2%), starch percentage (6%) and ethanol yield (33 L ton-1 of grains). Thus, considering production conditions and weather in Brazil, grains should be dried at air temperatures up to 80 °C, and storage must be performed under refrigerated air up to 10 °C for quality assurance of maize grains in the dry season and, therefore, increased ethanol production in the industry.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da secagem e as condições de temperatura do ar e armazenamento utilizadas no Brasil na qualidade de grãos de milho (Zea mays L.) para a produção de etanol. O experimento foi instalado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial (3x2x2) (secagem a temperatura do ar de 80, 100 e 120 ºC vs. condições de ambiente de armazenamento de 23 ºC / 60% RH e resfriamento de 10 ºC / 40% RH vs. tempo de armazenamento de zero e seis meses). Os grãos de milho foram colhidos com um teor de água de 18,0% (w.b.). Em seguida, os grãos foram secos em estufa de convecção / forçada de ar a diferentes temperaturas, até que o teor de água atingiu 12% (w.b.). Em seguida, os grãos foram armazenados. Concluiu-se que o aumento da temperatura do ar de secagem reduziu os teores de lípidos e a percentagem de amido, diminuindo o rendimento de etanol a 38,74 L ton-1 de grãos. O armazenamento sob refrigeração, a 10 °C foi favorável para a manutenção dos níveis de lípidos (+2%), percentagem de amido (6%) e rendimento de etanol (33 L ton-1 de grãos). Assim, considerando as condições de produção e clima no Brasil, os grãos devem ser secos nas temperaturas do ar de até 80 °C e o armazenamento deve ser realizado sob refrigeração do ar até 10 °C para garantir a qualidade dos grãos de milho na estação seca e, portanto, um aumento da produção de etanol na indústria.

Alternatives of storage of corn grains for the conditions of the brazilian cerrado / Alternativas de armazenagem de grãos de milho para as condições do cerrado brasileiro

The storage of grains under technical conditions in favorable environment ensures grain quality and regulates the supply of raw material for food production. For this reason, the objective of this study was to evaluate the different forms of storage (aerated silo, non-aerated silo, silo bags and airtight) of grains produced in the Brazilian cerrado, over time (zero, three and six months), for different physical qualities of maize (normal grains, whole grains and broken grains). The research was conducted at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Chapadão do Sul Campus (CPCS), Grain Postharvest Laboratory. To determine the physical-chemical quality and the physical properties of grains over six months, samples were taken from the stored lots. Analysis of variance and comparison of means by Tukey's test were conducted at 5% probability. The six-month storage time was the main factor contributing to the reduction of the quality of maize grains. Storage alternatives with aeration, non-aeration, bags and airtight environment did not influence the physical properties of maize grains. The broken maize grains showed the worst physical and chemical quality during storage time, while the batch of whole corn grains differ in quality during storage. It was concluded that airtight storage and storage in aerated silos were the conditions that best preserved the physical and chemical quality of maize grains over time.

O armazenamento de grãos em condições técnicas em ambientais favoráveis garante a sua qualidade dos grãos e regula o fornecimento de matéria-prima para a produção de alimentos. Assim, objetivou-se com este estudo, avaliar as diferentes formas de armazenamento (em silo aerado, em silo sem aeração, em sacaria e hermético) de grãos produzidos no cerrado brasileiro, ao longo do tempo (zero, três e seis meses), para diferentes qualidades físicas de milho (grãos normais, grãos inteiros e grãos quebrados). A pesquisa foi realizada na Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campus de Chapadão do Sul (CPCS), no Laboratório de Pós-Colheita de Grãos. Para determinar a qualidade físico-química e as propriedades físicas dos grãos, ao longo de seis meses, amostras foram coletadas dos lotes de produtos armazenados. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado (4x3), quatro formas de armazenamento (hermética, sacaria, sem aeração e com aeração), três tipos de massa de milho (milho normal, milho inteiro, milho quebrado). A análise de variância e as médias pelo teste de Tukey foram comparados a 5% de probabilidade. O tempo de armazenamento de seis meses foi o principal fator que contribuiu para a redução da qualidade de grãos de milho. Alternativas de armazenamento com aeração, sem aeração, em sacaria e hermético não influenciou nas propriedades físicas dos grãos de milho. Os grãos de milho quebrados apresentaram a pior qualidade física e química durante o tempo de armazenamento. Enquanto que, os lotes de grãos de milho inteiros diferiram na qualidade durante o armazenamento. Concluiu-se que, o armazenamento hermético e o armazenamento em silos com aeração foi o que melhor preservou a qualidade física e química dos grãos de milho ao longo do tempo.

Microscopia eletrônica de varredura do endosperma de café (Coffea arabica L. ) Durante o processo de secagem / Scanning electron microscopy of the endosperm of coffee (Coffea arabica L. ) during the drying process

A manutenção da integridade das membranas celulares, entre outros eventos, é um forte indicativo de que a qualidade do café foi preservada na pós-colheita. Objetivou-se neste trabalho, analisar o efeito de diferentes métodos de secagem na manutenção da integridade da parede celular e da membrana plasmática de café natural e café despolpado, buscando determinar as condições e o momento em que ocorrem as rupturas microscópicas. Os cafés foram submetidos a um período de pré-secagem em terreiro. Após este, uma parcela de cada tipo de café foi desidratada no terreiro e, outra, à temperatura de 40ºC e 60ºC em secadores de camada fixa, monitorando-se a temperatura e o teor de água até 11 por cento (bu). Nesse período, grãos foram aleatoriamente amostrados e fragmentos do endosperma preparados para a microscopia eletrônica de varredura, registrando-se diversas eletromicrografias, avaliando-se as alterações na membrana plasmática da célula do endosperma dos grãos de cafés em função do teor de água e tempo de secagem. O citoplasma das células a 11 por cento (bu) de teor de água não foi comprometido na secagem em terreiro e a 40°C; na secagem a 60°C, observou-se comprometimento nas estruturas celulares nos cafés com teor de água de 20 por cento (bu).

The maintenance of the integrity of cellular membranes, among other events, is a strong indicator that the quality of the coffee was preserved in the post-harvesting process. Therefore, this work aimed to analyze the effect of different drying methods on the maintenance of the integrity of cell walls and plasma membrane of natural and de-pulped coffee in order to determine the conditions and the moment that microscopic ruptures take place. The coffee was submitted to a pre-drying period on a concrete patio. After this, a sample of each type of coffee was dehydrated outdoors and another, with heated air at 40ºC and 60ºC in fixed-layer dryers, controlling the grain temperature and the moisture content to 11 percent (bu). During the drying process the coffee grains were randomly sampled and fragments of the endosperm were prepared for scanning electron microscopy and eletromicrographs were taken. Measurements of the cells were taken for evaluating changes in the plasma membrane of the endosperm cells in relation to the moisture content and drying period. The cell cytoplasm of the coffee grains with 11 percent moisture content was not affected when dried under sun light and at the temperature of 40°C. When dried at 60°C, changes in the cellular structures of the cytoplasm were observed for coffees with moisture content of 20 percent.

Qualidade do café natural e despolpado após secagem em terreiro e com altas temperaturas / Quality of natural and washed coffee after drying on ground and with high temperature

Objetivou-se no presente trabalho verificar a qualidade do café natural e despolpado durante a secagem em terreiro e secagem com ar aquecido a 40º e 60ºC. O trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Engenharia e no Pólo de Tecnologia em Pós-Colheita do Café da Universidade Federal de Lavras. A colheita do café, cultivar Topázio, foi seletiva. Parte do café foi despolpado e outra parte processado de forma natural. Uma parcela de cada tipo de café foi conduzida para a secagem em terreiro e outra parcela para secagem com temperaturas de 40ºC e 60ºC. Para avaliação da qualidade, foram feitos teste de condutividade elétrica e lixiviação de potássio; determinação de acidez titulável total; teste de acidez graxa; açúcares totais e redutores. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que: o tempo para secagem é afetado pelos diferentes tipos de secagem e processamentos; a condutividade elétrica, a lixiviação de potássio, a acidez titulável total e a acidez graxa aumentam com a elevação da temperatura de secagem, independente do tipo de processamento; os açúcares redutores e os açúcares totais diminuem com o aumento da tem peratura de secagem independente do tipo de processamento; a secagem com temperatura de 60ºC afetou negativamente a qualidade do café.

The present work has the aim of verifying the quality of natural and washed coffee during its drying with air heated at 40º and 60ºC. The work was accomplished in the Engineering Department and in the Coffee Post-harvest Technology Pole at the Federal University of Lavras. The harvest of Topázio cultivar cultivar was selective. A part of the coffee was pulped and the other part processed in the dry method. A portion of each kind of coffee was led to drying on ground and the other portion for drying at temperatures of 40ºC and 60ºC. For quality evaluation, electric tests and potassium leaching, total titrable acidity; fatty acidity test, total sugars and reducing sugars were conducted. The results obtained in the present work allow to conclude that: drying time is affected by the different sorts of drying and processings; electric conductivity, potassium leaching, total titrable acidity and fatty acidity increase with increasing drying temperature independently of the kind of processing; reducing sugars and total sugars decrease with rise of drying temperature independently of the sort of processing; the drying at the temperature of 60ºC affected negatively coffee quality.