Safe Storage of Sunflower Seed – Aeration Drying and Cooling

Grain Storage Early start sunflower

Grain Storage Fact Sheet February 2015

Results of aeration trials supported by the Australian Oilseed Federation Oilseed
Development Fund and the Australian Sunflower Association as part of the
Broadleaf Cropping Alliance, a Grains Research and Development Corporation funded
initiative.

 

Key Points:

  • Aeration drying and cooling enables safe storage of sunflower seed across a broad range of moisture contents and ambient temperatures.
  • Optimal sunflower seed storage occurs below 9 per cent MC at 40 per cent oil content. For higher oil contents (≥50 per cent), store sunflower seed at 7.5 per cent MC.
  • Moisture content can be lowered two to three per cent in less than a week with aeration drying.
  • Reliable aeration drying requires fan airflow rates in excess of 15 litres per second per tonne (L/s/t), while aeration cooling requires airflow rates of between 2 to 4 L/s/t.
  • Aeration cooling fans can reduce seed temperatures in storage by more than 10°C in two to three days.
  • Sunflower oil quality can be maintained with well-managed aeration drying and cooling systems.

Early-start

A moisture content range of 7.5 – 9.0 per cent in storage, is optimal to reduce the risk of moulds and storage pests, while maintaining seed oil quality.

Aeration drying offers the flexibility to start harvest early (at high seed moisture contents) and the ability to harvest for more hours each day. Aeration cooling delivers cool, dry and uniform conditions during storage to maintain optimal seed quality.

Growers who successfully manage sunflower seed moisture and temperature during storage can build a reputation for supplying a consistent quality of sunflower seed that maximises market opportunities in the short and long term.

When designing storage systems, seek independent technical advice on the correct equipment and operating procedures.

On-farm trials support aeration drying

On-farm trials in three silos run by Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Queensland (DAFF QLD) revealed that using aeration drying at harvest can allow growers the flexibility to harvest sunflowers at high moisture contents (≥13 per cent MC) provided the appropriate size fans are used.

Figure 1 Sunfl ower seed moisture content reduction

During the trial, the first small load of harvested sunflower seed delivered into the Kotzur silo was measured at 13.7 per cent MC. After subsequent loads, and prior to drying commencing, the bottom third of the silo averaged 12.6 per cent MC, the middle section 10.5 per cent MC and the top portion 9.6 per cent MC (see Figure 1).

After six days of aeration drying, the sunflower seed moisture content was reduced to 5.6 per cent at the bottom, 7.5 per cent in the middle and 9.4 per cent in the top section of the silo.

Note: Averaging silo moisture contents, drying could have ceased on day five to meet delivery standards.

Aeration drying equipment

Aeration drying requires airflow rates in the order of 15 to 25 L/s/t to reliably move drying fronts quickly through the full grain bulk.

For the DAFF QLD trial, a Kotzur drying silo of 75 m3 capacity, holding 27 t of sunflower seed was fitted with a DF 4000 7.5 kW three-phase fan to deliver the airflow rates of 25 to 30 L/s/t.

On a larger 140 m3 cone-based Grainmaster silo, two F650, 1.5 kW singlephase fans were retrofitted. The F650 fans delivered 17 L/s/t to dry 58 tonnes of seed.

High airflow rates can be achieved for drying partly because of the large size and low density (e.g. 41 kg/hL) of sunflower seed, which creates sizeable air gaps between seeds and reduces the back pressure the fans work against. Fan performance is reduced when used on smaller grains such as sorghum and canola, or when the fans work against greater depths of grain in a larger silo.

Drying fan operations

Fan run-times during the trial were managed using a GrainSafe 5000™ aeration controller. The aim was to push drying fronts completely through the full grain depth by maximising fan running hours each day.

TA BLE 1 App roximate moisture content of sunfl ower seed

During the first two days the controller was set to run fans while the ambient air was less than 75 per cent relative humidity (RH ). For the remaining four days the drying settings were altered to use all ambient air below 65 per cent RH .

Ambient air below 75 per cent RH is less than the equilibrium of 9 per cent MC of sunflowers. The second stage of drying using ambient air below 65 per cent RH drives towards moisture contents of less than 8 per cent (see Table 1).

Regular sampling is required to ensure seed is not over dried.

Cost of drying

As ambient conditions for aeration drying vary, a conservative estimate of six days has been used to calculate the cost of drying during the trial.

Over the six days the fan run-time totalled 67 hours. Using a charge rate of $2.10 per hour to run the 7.5 kW fan, this indicates total electricity costs of $140 to dry the 27 t of seed — approximately $5/t.

Benefits of aeration drying

The flexibility to harvest sunflowers early and deal with high seed moisture content has numerous advantages including:

  • reduced risk of weather damage to the standing crop;
  • less fire risk in harvesters or grain dryers;
  • extended harvest days and the ability to resume more quickly after rain events, and
  • maximised saleable tonnage and income by limiting over-dry sunflower seed towards the end of harvest.

Managing admixture

Aim to start harvesting sunflower seed when moisture content is in the range of 10 – 12 per cent and check for acceptable admixture levels in the seed sample. Aim for no more than 2 per cent admixture and keep below the 4 per cent maximum receival limit. Watch for fine admixture in the sample. Incorporating a perforated section in the harvester outload auger and other augers can reduce admixture fines.

Cooling during storage

In addition to the use of drying fans at harvest to manage high-moisture seed, aeration cooling during storage, using low airflow rates of 2 to 4 L/s/t, can be used to reduce seed temperature and create uniform moisture conditions throughout the storage bulk. This reduces the risk of moulds, storage pests and seed oil quality deterioration.

Silos set up for aeration drying

Aeration cooling trial

During March on the Darling Downs, 65 t of monounsaturated sunflower seed was harvested at between 8 to 9% MC and stored in an aerated 158 m³ capacity cone-based silo.

The silo was fitted with two standard, single-phase 0.37 kW aeration cooling fans (F370) providing 7 L/s/t airflow. Sunflower seed has a lower back pressure than other grains, so the cooling airflow rate for this trial was above the typical 2 to 4 L/s/t.

Cooling fan operations

A Grainsafe 5000™ controller set aeration fans to run through its automatic cooling management program. Typically, this is an initial five days of continuous fan run time, followed by a purge fan run of seven days taking 9 to 12 hours per day of cool air, concluded by the longer term protect fan setting. In most cases, the protect setting runs fans for about 100 hours per month, selecting the best available ambient air. To protect grain, all cooling settings automatically stop fans during times of air humidity above 85 per cent (RH ).

Cooling results

Sunflower seed temperature in the silo was monitored continuously for six weeks from mid-March into April.

Prior to aeration, harvested seed temperatures in storage were above 35°C (see Figure 2). Two days of aeration reduced seed temperature by 10°C to less than 25°C.

With warm ambient temperatures during the second week of aeration, seed temperatures rose briefly. By week four seed temperatures fell to 20°C, then finally to less than 15°C by week six.

Sunflower oil quality

High-quality monounsaturated oil is the major end product for sunflower seed in Australia, so it is important to maintain oil quality during storage and handling.

Poor seed storage conditions, which expose sunflower seed to excess moisture and heat, can degrade oil quality by raising levels of free fatty acids (FF A).

During the aeration drying and cooling trials outlined here, sunflower seed was sampled before and after storage from all silos.

Samples were submitted for analysis and the results demonstrated no increase of FF A levels as a result of aeration drying or cooling (see Table 2.)

TA BLE 2 Free fatty acid levels in sunfl ower seed before and after

Setting-up-for-drying

Further reading

Safe Storage of Sunflowers, www.bettersunflowers.com.au/bysp/storage

The Big Yellow Sunflower Pack Module 7 Safe storage, https://bettersunflowers.com.au/public/safestorage/#/0

Dealing with high-moisture grain (GRD C Fact Sheet), www.storedgrain.com.au/dealing-withhigh- moisture-grain/

Aerating Stored Grain – Cooling or Drying for Quality Control (GRD C Booklet), www.storedgrain.com.au/aeratingstored- grain/

Storing oilseeds (GRD C Fact Sheet), www.storedgrain.com.au/storingoilseeds/

Grain storage specialists

Philip Burrill
1800 933 845
Email: philip.burrill@daff.qld.gov.au

Authors:

Philip Burrill DAFF Qld,
Andrew Ridley DAFF Qld.

Acknowledgements:

Rob and John Piper and families, “Itchelby” Felton.
Mark Conway, Control Unlimited P/L.
Alan Andrews, Customvac P/L.
Kevin Charlesworth, “Mirradong” Clifton.
Liz Alexander, Blue Dog Agribusiness, Emerald.

The aeration trials were supported by the Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) Oilseed Development Fund and the Australian Sunflower Association as part of the Broadleaf Cropping Alliance, a Grains Research Development Corporation funded initiative.

Storing Oilseeds

Stored Grain oilseed storage

Storing oilseeds is more difficult than storing cereal grains as they are more susceptible to quality deterioration and have limited insect control options.

The decision to store oilseeds requires a planned approach, careful management and a suitable storage system.

KEY POINTS

  • Limited chemical control options for insect pests in stored oilseeds increases the importance of careful management and planning.
  • Aeration cooling is a requirement for storing oilseeds to maintain seed and oil quality, limit insect reproduction and prevent mould.
  • Moisture content in oilseeds must be lower than cereal grains because the oil content increases the risk of moulding and quality damage.
  • Successful phosphine fumigation requires a gas-tight silo.
  • Extra care is required to prevent chemical residue contamination from structural treatments.

The rate of quality deterioration in stored oilseeds depends on the quality of grain placed in storage and management of temperature, moisture content and insects. The quality of oilseed is generally measured by testing the free fatty acids (FFA), oil colour, oil content, residues of unregistered chemicals, insects or evidence of insect damage, moulds and mycotoxins. With the exception of oil content, storage management affects all of these qualities.

Lining-up-to-store-oilseeds

Storing quality oilseed

Weather or mechanically damaged seed will deteriorate more quickly during storage than high-quality seed. When oilseeds become damaged, processes such as oxidation are in progress and difficult to slow.

A dull grey and brown seed coat colour in canola is one indicator of weather damage. Another indicator is the colour of crushed seed — weather-damaged seed will be light brown in colour compared with the normal bright yellow.

The formation of FFA and off-flavours in oil will occur more rapidly in damaged seed. Canola with FFA levels greater than one per cent is more difficult to store and may be rejected at receival sites.

Why the low-moisture content?

It is often asked, why canola has to be stored at low-moisture content of 7–8 per cent. The oil content in oilseeds is higher than that in cereal grain. If the moisture content of canola is converted to an oil-free basis, canola with 45 per cent oil content and eight per cent moisture content is equivalent to cereals at 14.5 per cent moisture content.

Image: Lining up to store oilseeds: Storing oilseeds on farm can provide benefits in harvest logistics and marketing opportunities, but requires careful management and the right storage system to maintain quality.

Cereals stored at 14.5 per cent moisture content are highly susceptible to quality loss, mould growth and insect infestation. Canola at the equivalent eight per cent moisture content requires aeration cooling. Canola stored at high moisture or oil content is also at risk of spontaneous combustion.

Temperature and moisture

When grain is cool (below 20°C), mould growth and insect development are significantly reduced and cooling below 18°C will stop most insects from breeding and mould from growing.

Unlike cereal grains (which typically contain only about two per cent oil by weight) oilseeds contain from 17 per cent in soybeans and up to 50 per cent oil content in canola. The oil fraction of the seed absorbs minimal moisture, meaning a small increase in moisture content can quickly produce self heating and seed damage.

The general recommended storage conditions for canola are below 25°C and below 7 per cent moisture content but vary according to the oil content. Figure 1 shows the safe moisture contents for canola stored at 25°C, depending on its oil content. For example, canola with an oil content of 35 per cent can be safely stored at 8.5 per cent moisture content and below 25°C. But canola with higher oil content of around 50 per cent must be stored below 6.5 per cent moisture content and 25°C to be safe. The recommended safe storage for sunflowers at 40 per cent oil content is below nine per cent moisture content, or below 7.5 per cent moisture content if oil content is higher than 50 per cent.

Hygiene

The first step towards insect control is done before any oilseed even goes into storage — meticulous grain hygiene. Due to the limited treatment options to control insect pests in oilseeds, the first line of attack is removing them from the storage site before harvest. Cleaning silos and storages thoroughly and removing spilt and leftover grain removes the feed source and harbour for insect pests.

For more information see the GRDC fact sheet, Hygiene and structural treatments for grain storages.

POTENTIAL UNSAFE STORAGE LIMITS FOR AUSTRALIAN CANOLA VARIETIES AT 60% EQUILIBRIUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND 25°C

Insect control

The common insects found in stored oilseed are:

  • Rust-red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum)
  • Saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis)
  • Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella)
  • Warehouse moths (Ephestia spp.)
  • Psocids (Liposcelis spp.)

These insects tend to favour the top of the grain stack and around silo outlets. Sample both of these sites regularly. Under optimum breeding conditions of about 30°C, insects can complete their full life cycle in as little as four weeks.

Reducing the grain temperature with aeration cooling plays a vital role in lengthening the insect breeding life cycle or in most cases stopping reproduction if cooled below 18°C.

VapormateTM and phosphine are the only registered fumigants for controlling insects in oilseeds. For oilseeds, pyrethrins and diatomaceous earth (DE) are only suitable for use as structural treatments and must never be applied directly to the grain.

If using DE as a structural treatment:

  • follow label instructions carefully,
  • do not exceed the label rates, and
  • check receival standards with your grain buyers before applying.

For more information see the GRDC fact sheet, Hygiene and structural treatments for grain storages.

Fumigation

Insect pests commonly found in stored oilseeds

VapormateTM can only be applied by a licensed fumigator, which leaves phosphine as the only insect treatment option for growers to use on farm.

The key to successful phosphine fumigation is to apply only in gas-tight, sealed silos. This will ensure the phosphine concentration reaches the lethal dose for the required period to kill insects at all life stages. Fumigating in a non-gas-tight silo is likely to only kill a percentage of the adult insects leaving the eggs, larvae, pupae and remaining adults to reinfest the grain.

When buying a new gas-tight sealable silo, which is covered under the Australian Standard 2628, it must pass a five-minute half-life pressure test. For existing silos, a three-minute half-life pressure test will provide gas-tight conditions adequate for a successful fumigation. For more information see the GRDC fact sheet, Pressure testing sealable silos.

Most oilseeds absorb phosphine gas during the fumigation so it is vital to use the correct label dose rates and to follow the required ventilation periods stated on the label. The phosphine fumigation exposure period must be extended to 10 days if grain temperature is between 15°C and 25°C. For more information see the GRDC booklet, Fumigating with phosphine, other fumigants and controlled atmospheres.

Aeration cooling

Aeration is an essential storage tool for oilseeds. Correct management creates uniform, cool conditions in the seed bulk and slows most quality deterioration processes.

Aeration cooling:

■ Maintains oil quality — colour, low FFA, odour and rancidity.
■ Reduces the risk of ‘hot spots’, moisture migration and mould development.
■ Slows or stops insect pests’ reproduction cycle.
■ Maintains germination and seed vigour for longer.

Aeration cooling can be achieved with air-flow rates of 2–3 litres per second per tonne. Operating an aeration fan for cooling requires a planned control program, which is best achieved with an automatic aeration controller.

A critical point to managing aeration manually is to avoid running fans for extended periods when the ambient relative humidity is above 85 per cent. Selecting air well below this ensures moisture from the air is not increasing the grains moisture content especially as oilseeds are more susceptible to quality loss.

When managing aeration cooling, the initial aim is to get maximum air-flow through the grain bulk as soon as it enters storage, to prevent it from sweating and heating. After the aeration fans have been running continuously for 2–3 days to flush out any warm, humid air, reduce run time to 9–12 hours per day during the coolest period, for the next seven days.

This initial reduction in grain temperature of 10°C ensures grain is less prone to damage and insect attack, while further cooling becomes a more precise task.

During the final phase of longer-term storage, automated aeration controllers generally run fans during the coolest periods of the day, averaging 100 hours per month. For more information see the GRDC fact sheet, Aeration cooling for pest control.

 

Canola restricts airflow

Air on: Aeration cooling is essential for storing oilseed and may require extra capacity to achieve 2–3 l/s/t in small oilseeds like canola.Compared to aeration cooling of cereal grains, canola being a much smaller seed adds significantly more back pressure to the aeration fan. This means that an aeration cooling system set up to produce 2–3 l/s/t in cereal grain will typically be reduced to 40–60 per cent of that when used in canola.

When setting up a storage unit to cater for cereals and canola, consider using several smaller fans rather than one big fan for cooling. When canola is stored, all the fans will be needed to achieve the 2–3 l/s/t but when cereal is stored one or some of the fans can remain turned off to save using unnecessary power.

Other factors that also affect the amount of airflow through the grain are:

■ depth of the grain in storage,
■ the amount of un-thrashed and foreign plant material in the grain, and
■ the size of the motor driving the fan.

The area and type of ducting must also be adequate to disperse the air through the storage and not be blocked by the small canola seeds. Avoid splitting airflow from one fan into multiple silos as the back pressure in each silo will vary and unfavourably portion the amount of airflow to each. This will be exacerbated if different grains are stored in each silo such as canola in one and a cereal in the other.

Aeration drying

Aeration drying can be a valuable harvest tool for oilseeds but requires purpose built equipment capable of airflow rates of at least 15–25 l/s/t and adequate ventilation. Even with these higher airflow rates, aeration drying is a much slower process than aeration cooling and requires careful management. In saying that, as an example, sunflower seed can be aeration dried successfully with ambient conditions of 30°C and 30–50 per cent relative humidity. For more information on the possibilities for aeration drying and how to manage it, refer to the GRDC booklet, Aerating stored grain, cooling or drying for quality control.

Types of storage

The ideal storage for oilseeds is a cone-bottom silo fitted with aeration and sealable for gas-tight fumigation. Generally oilseeds are higher-value grains as well as being prone to mould and insect attack, so should be given priority over other grain to the best storage facility on the farm.

The ideal oilseed storage will have:

■ Aeration cooling, with an automatic controller.
■ Aeration ducting suitable for small seeds.
■ Easy ways to inload and outload causing minimal seed damage from machinery.
■ Access to the top of the grain stack to monitor temperature, moisture and insect activity.
■ Quality sealing to meet the minimum three-minute half-life pressure test for gas-tight fumigation with phosphine.
■ An easy-to-clean structure so grain can be put into a clean storage, free of insect pests and unregistered pesticide residues.

Storing oilseeds successfully requires careful management with a planned approach and a suitable storage system. Always remember that oilseeds carry a higher risk of fire during harvest, drying and storage.