CONSTRUCTION OF METAL MAIZE CRIB

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CONSTRUCTION OF METAL MAIZE CRIB

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to construct and evaluate the performance of maize crib for storage of freshly harvested maize (Zea mays). A crib with crib with 3.048m× 2.134m× 2.74mas the length, width and height respectively was constructed and evaluated using appropriate design procedures at the department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The roof of the crib is made of corrugated roofing sheet. The crib was raised at 50 mm above the ground surface and wire netted against rodents. It has one door for loading and off-loading of grains. And also has rodents guard on each leg which helps to prevent rodent and crawling insects from climbing the structure. The metal maize crib that was constructed has the capacity to carry 5,000kg of grains.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       Maize Crop

Maize is a cereal plant also called Indian corn of the grass family “Poaceae” and its edible grain. The domesticated crop originated from America and is one of the most widely distributed of the world’s food crop. Maize is used as livestock feed, as human food, as bio-fuel, and as raw material in industries. (Marco, 2016).

The corn plant is a tall annual grass with a stout, erect, solid stem. The large narrow eaves have wavy margins and are spaced alternately on opposite side of the stern. Staminate (male) flowers are borne on the tassel terminating the main axis of the stern, the pistillate (female) inflorescence, which mature to become the edible ears, are pikes with a thickened axis, bearing paired spikelet’s in longitudinal rows, each row of paired spiklet’s normally produce how rows of grains variety of white and yellow maize are the most popular food, through there are varieties with red, blue, pink and black kernels, often banded, spotted or striped.

In recent years, however, the grain storage problems are changed (and in some cases, temporarily worsened) as steps towards full development have been taken, for example now there are new seed varieties which grow faster and yield more grain. Farmers plant these new seed and these new grains are ready for harvesting earlier than it is used maize. 

The grain is ready to be harvested during the raining season. The farmer has always dried his crop in the sun, but there may be little sun drying this season. Also, it is likely these new variety of grain must not be left to dry in the field.

If this grain dries too long in the field it would shatter (break) but if the famer bring the grains from the field and stores it before bringing the moisture content of the grain down to 13% or lower, the grain will not (Peace crop, 1971).

Storage structure such as crib should be encouraged where these exist traditionally, the incorporation of improvement principally to control insect and prevent access by rodent. In areas where no outdoor traditional storage of maize combs taken place, it is likely that the climate is too humid for crib storage and artificial drying will be necessary. This applies where storage is traditionally in the home drying depending on heat /smoke from domestic fires. In a circumstance, traditional storage capacity cannot readily be increasing.

1.2       Background of the Study

Every year, millions tons of grains losses are caused due to improper storage conditions. Factors like humidity, heat pest and aeration which are effective on storage conditions affect the quality and quantity of grains and shorten the storage period. In this aspect, proper storage practices are among the most important element in food supply chain of grain which is significant nutritional source.

Farmers all over the world loose much of their grain after it is harvested to insects, rats and other micro-organisms, as well as man leading to loss of initial investment.

The traditional grain storage structures in different parts of the country are construction of wide varieties of locally available materials. Most traditional storage structure are not suitable for storage of grains for long period. Therefore, there was need for improvement of the local maize crib in the country to prevent food losses.

Corn cribs were first used by Native Americans and were quickly adopted by European settlers. Struggling settlers often raided corn cribs for food. As a result at least some Native groups abandoned the corn crib and buried food in caches (Bruce, 1999). The cribs sometimes have a roof and are elevated to keep the maize out of the weather and to prevent rodent’s infestation. Early maize cribs were constructed of wood in a square or rectangular shape, often with sides that angled outward at the top.

Today maize cribs are constructed of wood, concrete, metals and a variety of other materials. The basic corn crib consists of a roofed bin elevated on posts. Another typical early American design has walls slanted outward. Most of the larger designs have an open space in the middle for accessing corn and promoting airflow. The larger design, this space was often used to store wagons. By the early 20th century, the term “corn crib” was applied to large barns that contained many individual bins of corn (Indiana Department of Natural Resources).

Today a typical corn crib on many farms is a cylindrical cage of galvanized wire fencing covered by a metal roof formed of corrugated galvanized iron often in round cylinders or silos they are made in a wide range of sizes, with small cribs accommodating a small farm or ranch need and large cribs being used at co-ops and grain companies’ storage locations. These cribs are usually large barns containing many storage bins of maize.

They usually provide some sort of natural or mechanical ventilation system or dryers that allow the maize coin to dray quickly, to preventing moisture level not more than 30% and also prevent the growth of harmful micro-organisms while they date back hundreds of years, maize cribs continue to be important to the Agricultural industry, and will continue to be a need for newer and larger structures.

1.3       Statement of the Problem

In humid countries were grains cannot he dried adequately prior storage and needs kept well ventilated during the storage period, cribs arc usually constructed of available materials.

Under prevailing climatic conditions most plants rot quickly and most cribs have to be replaced every two or three years. Over the years there has been need for the proper storage of grains (Maize) but as a result of little or no knowledge about how to store, when to store, where to store farmers have loss 70% of their grains.

Nowadays present farming and technology has greatly improved the lifespan of various farm products with the help of Agricultural engineers in production of machineries and storage facilities e.g. cribs for storage of maize, silo, rhombus, slabs, etc.

The conditions to be considered for grain storage are:

1. Moisture content of grains.
2. Temperature of grains.
3. Oxygen supply to the storage environment.
4. The structure should be elevated and away from moist places in the house
5. Rodent-proof materials should be used for construction of rural storages.
6. The area surrounding the structure should he clean to minimize insect breeding

These are put into consideration before storing any product e.g. maize, (FAQ, 2017). It has also been observed that rodents find it appealing to penetrate or invade the crib and destroy maize.

1.4       Objective of the Study

The objectives of this study include the following

1. To design a crib that will improve storage performance.
2. To prevent rodent and insect’s infestation in the grain.
3. To design a crib that will prevent water inform of rainfall from getting into the maize crib.
4. To design a crib that will have a rodent baffle so as to prevent rodents from getting into the crib.

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