Abstract:
The research studies were conducted to determine the efficiency of five packaging materials (Jute bag, Hessian sack, Hessian sack lined with cellophane, Polyethylene and Plastic container) in keeping the quality of two varieties of soybean (Glycine max (L) Merill) for the period of 90days. The studies were carried out at ambient temperature of 28±2oC and relative humidity of 75±5%. The result obtained shows that the soybeans stored in jute bag and hessian sack recorded the highest weight gain of 7.84% and 7.17% respectively in variety TGX 1448-2E, the same trend was also observed in TGX 1830-20E. The soybean stored in all the packaging materials recorded 61% to 80% germination percentage in the two varieties. Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium spp were evident in the soybean stored in all the packaging materials. Plastic container and polyethylene sack recorded the low bacteria and fungi count among all the packaging materials. The result also shows that during the period of storage in both varieties, there were decrease in carbohydrate, protein and fat with values ranging from 22.81% to 26.90%, 35.22% to 38.21% and 10.34% to 13.07% respectively and there were increase in moisture content, ash contents crude fibre and free fatty acid with values ranging from 12.01% to 15.05%, 9.23% to 12.87% 12.59% to 17.78% and 0.31% to 0.94% respectively. It was observed that Jute bag and hessian sack were prone to insect infestation due to their porous nature but no insect was found on the seed stored in plastic container, polyethylene and hessian sack lined with cellophane. From the result of this investigation, plastic container was found to be the best packaging material for the storage of soybeans followed by polyethylene bag because they kept the quality of the soybeans in a better condition for the period of storage compared with others.
