Strategies for In-Store Drying Based on the Analysis of Weather Data—Case Study: Key Grain Storing Regions of China

Abstract

This article describes the use of weather data collected over several years for the development of strategies for planning and management of in-store grain drying operations. China was chosen for this study due to the size of its grain industry and the climatic diversity of the country. In-store drying is well established throughout China and the strategies chosen are determined by weather conditions prevailing in various regions of the country. Seven agro-climatic regions were identified, characterized by climatic conditions leading to particular storage practices. These regions include the Qingzang Plateau, Inner Mongolia Xinjiang, Northeast China, Northern China, Central China, Southwest China, and Southern China. In-store drying, combining drying and storage operations, reduces moisture content of grain from 18 to 14% (wb). It uses higher air flow rates than aeration. Weather data including temperature and relative humidity from the main storage regions in China were analyzed using computer simulations of in-store drying of three major cereal crops, namely, wheat, maize, and paddy rice. The findings from this study, related to equipment requirements and strategies to be used, provide a valuable tool for optimization of operations in the grain industry. The concepts developed could be applied in any grain-growing region in the world.

Keywords:

• Agro-climatic regions
• Computer simulation
• Drying strategies
• In-store drying
• Weather data

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Financial support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research is acknowledged.

Notes

^a Because no data were available for this region, Kunming (altitude 1,900 m) data were used instead.