DRYING AND STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES TO MINIMIZE QUALITY LOSSES IN SOYBEANS IN THE SOUTHERN REGIONS OF BRAZIL

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate, on a real production scale, the management of batches of harvested soybean grains in storage units, which are submitted for different technological processes of drying. The study regions were divided into micro-regions based on structure and static storage capacity. For each micro-region (West, East, North, South, Central), soybeans were dried using a continuous dryer-CD1, a continuous dryer + silo-dryer-CDSD2, and a continuous dryer + aerator-silo-CDAS3. Grain quality losses due to drying management ranged from 0.23 to 3.26% in crude protein, and from 0.15 to 3.05% in crude oil. In regions with large-scale soybean production, adopting storage unit structures at the farm level, ranging from 11 to 19 km, with high drying technology in partial continuous grain flow and final stationary drying in a silo-dryer or silo-aerator is the best alternative for a productive-sustainable system. Managing CDSD2 and CDAS3 soybean drying system is an alternative that ensures low losses and high grain quality, improving protein and crude oil content. In conclusion, the CDSD2 and CDAS3 drying systems reduced crude protein and oil content losses by 94% and 95%, respectively, providing a much better sustainable postharvest system.

Keywords

• grain conservation
• grain quality
• food security
• soybean postharvest
• soybean processing