AERATING FARMER STOCK PEANUT STORAGE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

A two-year study was conducted to determine acceptable aeration strategies for farmer stock peanuts stored in conventional warehouses with and without headspace ventilation. Farmer stock peanuts were stored in 1/10th scale model warehouses with various aeration and ventilation treatments. Peanuts were loaded into each warehouse in the fall and stored for about 190 days. Peanuts stored with aeration generally cooled faster than those stored without aeration. Aflatoxin was detected in the initial samples from the 2002 crop, but aeration significantly reduced the further production of aflatoxin in storage. Aflatoxin contamination was not a factor in the 2003 storage season. Value change based on kernel size distribution was not significantly affected by aeration. An aeration rate of 0.31 m3 min-1 t-1 was sufficient for proper aeration when used without headspace ventilation. The reduced aeration rate of 0.10 m3 min-1 t-1 in conjunction with headspace ventilation cooled the center of the peanut mass sufficiently to reduce the risk of aflatoxin production in storage. Headspace ventilation with aeration reduced the temperature difference between the top and bottom layers of peanut during storage.