This study investigates the effectiveness of periodic stirring as a non-chemical approach to suppress maize weevils, and other beetle populations in large-scale grain storage bins. The research was conducted in a farm steel bin with a diameter of 9.8 m holding 127 Mg of maize, and a control bin of diameter 7.3 m holding 102 Mg of maize. Both bins were loaded with maize at 13% moisture and infested at a commercial tolerance rate of 2 weevils/kg of maize. Probe traps monitored beetle populations except for before stirring was initiated. Maize samples were collected at depths of 0, 0.9, 1.8 and 2.7 m with a vacuum-probe sampler prior to stirring and at 10, 20, 30 and 40 days of continuous stirring machine operation. Stirring achieved 100% control of live while the control bin experienced an increase in its population after 40 days. The stirring process also led to a significant reduction in dominant beetle populations such as hairy fungus beetles, , and foreign grain beetles, . Although the quality of maize in both bins changed at different depths and storage times, the treatment bin had higher bulk density (732.7 ± 3.98 kg/m to 768.9 ± 2.41 kg/m), lower insect damage (0.02 ± 0.02% to 0.9 ± 0.28%), and higher allowable storage time (>249 days). Moisture content and molded kernels increased in the control bin, reaching 26.4 ± 1.29% and 3.2 ± 0.53%, respectively. The average percentage of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) in the sweepings on the floor of the emptied treatment bin was 6.5 times higher than that in the control bin. Calculated packing factor values below 1.5 from the sweepings indicated that BCFM concentrations did not affect airflow. Stirring maize provides an alternative to the use of chemicals to control stored maize insect pests at a production scale.

中文翻译：

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对钢箱中散装玉米进行机械搅拌以抑制玉米象甲虫和其他甲虫种群

本研究调查了定期搅拌作为一种非化学方法抑制大型粮食储仓中玉米象鼻虫和其他甲虫种群的有效性。该研究是在一个直径为 9.8 m、可容纳 127 毫克玉米的农用钢仓和一个直径为 7.3 m、可容纳 102 毫克玉米的对照仓中进行的。两个箱子都装载了水分为 13% 的玉米，并以每公斤玉米 2 只象鼻虫的商业耐受率进行侵染。探针捕捉器监测甲虫种群，除了在开始搅拌之前。在搅拌前以及搅拌机连续运行 10、20、30 和 40 天时，用真空探针取样器在 0、0.9、1.8 和 2.7 m 的深度收集玉米样品。搅拌实现了 100% 的活体控制，而对照箱在 40 天后经历了种群数量的增加。搅拌过程还导致优势甲虫种群显着减少，例如毛真菌甲虫和外来谷物甲虫。尽管两个仓中玉米的品质在不同深度和储存时间下有所变化，但处理仓具有较高的容重（732.7±3.98 kg/m 至 768.9±2.41 kg/m）、较低的虫害（0.02±0.02% 至 0.9± 0.28%），以及更长的允许储存时间（>249天）。对照仓中的水分含量和成型粒增加，分别达到 26.4 ± 1.29% 和 3.2 ± 0.53%。清空处理仓地板上的碎屑和异物 (BCFM) 的平均百分比比对照仓高 6.5 倍。根据扫描结果计算出的填充系数值低于 1.5，表明 BCFM 浓度不会影响气流。搅拌玉米提供了使用化学品的替代方案，可以在生产规模上控制储存的玉米害虫。