Losses in stored wheat in Punjab Singh Subash1*, Sharma D K2 1School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141004, Punjab 2Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141004, Punjab *Corresponding author: subashsingh@pau.edu
Online published on 13 November, 2020. Abstract Despite improved yield in the field, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at storage is heavily attacked by numerous pests. The loss assessment studies carried on wheat in 2014 and 2015 revealed that household storage practice suffered highest grain damage and weight loss due to storage pests. Healthy grains were highest in treated samples over untreated control samples at all storage locations. Highest pest incidence was observed in treated household samples over PAU and Moga outdoor storage, whereas there was no incidence found in Moga indoor storage. The population build up of Rhyzopertha dominica was highest in untreated control followed by T. castaneum, S. oryzae and C. cephalonica. Among various storage protection strategies used at storage levels, Moga (outdoor) storage registered a highest use of aluminium phosphide as fumigation practice followed by Rampuraphul (indoor), household storage, Moga (indoor) and PAU practice. At the end of investigation period, farmers and Food Corporation of India (FCI) were advised to follow PAU practice. Top Keywords Insect pests, Losses, Management, Storage, Wheat. Top |