The main cause of poor seed quality in harvested crops is exposure to low temperature chilling. In our province, the crops most affected by this issue are corn, rice, and peanuts. During late fall and early winter, when conditions are favorable, seed moisture decreases, allowing seeds to survive the winter safely. Below are the recommended storage methods for these three types of seeds:
**Corn:** Corn seeds are vulnerable to freezing damage when their moisture content is between 19% and 20%, especially at temperatures below -12°C to -18°C. To ensure safe overwintering, the moisture level should be reduced to below 16% before winter begins. Corn seeds should be stored on the cob, and they can be naturally dried by stacking them. It's important to choose a well-ventilated area and avoid making the stack too large—ideally no wider than 1.5 meters, with a base layer of 0.5 meters. If the moisture is above 20% when stacked, it’s recommended to turn the ears every 7–10 days, moving the drier outer ears into the center and the wetter ones to the outside. If natural drying isn't sufficient, the seeds can be dried using a flue-cured tobacco house or fire pot. The drying temperature should not exceed 40°C to prevent loss of viability. The corn should be spread no more than 35 cm thick and turned regularly. After drying, the seeds must be cooled gradually before being moved to regular storage.
**Rice:** There are two primary methods for storing rice seeds during winter. One is warehouse storage, which requires reducing the moisture to below 18% by early November and further to 14% by the end of December. The warehouse temperature must remain stable to avoid fluctuations that could harm the seeds. Another method is closed insulation storage, which includes three techniques: (1) Layered storage, where rice seeds are wrapped in an outer layer of rice husks or other materials to provide insulation; (2) Pile storage, where rice is placed in the center and surrounded by food sacks or mats, then covered with dry straw; (3) Cellar storage, where a dry location is chosen, and a rectangular or circular cellar is dug, lined with grass curtains and mats, then filled with rice seeds and covered with soil. Seeds are typically placed in the cellar around late October to early November, and removed when the temperature reaches 0–2°C in early April. Once spring arrives, it's crucial to dry any excess moisture to prevent mold and overheating.
**Peanuts:** Peanut seeds start losing viability at -10°C when their moisture content is 13%, so it's essential to keep moisture below 8.5% for safe overwintering. After harvest, peanuts should be dried quickly. For small-scale storage, they are often kept in ventilated areas outdoors. A 30–50 cm high platform made of wooden slats is used, with a tree curtain forming a small, enclosed space about 1 meter wide. On cloudy or snowy days, straw is placed outside, while on sunny days, the cover is removed to allow drying. If stored indoors, the moisture must be below 9% before entering the room. If the moisture is too high, regular ventilation is necessary to avoid spoilage.
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