How warehouses, granaries, hangars, silos and elevators are fumigated

Fumigation of warehouses is extremely important for keeping grain crops safe from pests. They can eat away at stocks, causing losses and reducing the quality of sowing materials. Treatment with special fumigants helps to avoid this.

During fumigation, premises and products are treated with liquid insecticides and tablet fumigants. The key advantage of this treatment is the absolute destruction of the pest population at any degree of grain damage.

Meanwhile, fumigation must be carried out in accordance with all the rules and carefully prepared for, because the components, in particular phosphine and its derivatives, are very toxic. You should choose the right dose and keep the room hermetically sealed until the product kills the insects and becomes safe. In severe infestations, exposure can last more than 2 weeks.

Warehouses, granaries, hangars, silos and elevators are fumigated according to the following algorithm: preparation, selection of the fumigation method, its implementation and analysis.

Preparation

The storages are inspected, and the types of pests are identified to select the right product. Experts take into account humidity and temperature, as they largely determine the effectiveness of the insecticide. In heated rooms, fumigation can be carried out at any time, but in semi-open storages – only during the warm season. A qualitative effect is possible at +15 °C.

Choosing a fumigation method

Grain sensing

It is carried out if infected grain is found in the premises. Special equipment is used to apply a fumigant based on Mg3P2 or AlP, which is distributed at a depth of 3 meters. The grain is covered with polyethylene or film. The treatment lasts up to 5 days, followed by degassing of the premises.

Fumigants are also used when loading the elevator. They can be placed by a mechanical distributor or manually through the loading hatch. Recirculation of phosphide gases is also successfully used, after which it is forbidden to be in the room for a certain period of time.

Carbonation

Given the diffusivity of the drug, the storage facility is sealed and sprayed with gas, after which the room is left for exposure for up to 5-7 days and degassed. Fumigation is not performed if the temperature in the warehouse is below zero or above +35 °C.

The most popular preparations include the following:

• Defenda fumigant is effective for grain disinfection in elevators, silos, wagons, containers, etc. It has high bioactivity and diffusivity;
• Actellic (Syngenta) is an organophosphate insecticide that destroys beetles and mites hiding in grains. After exposure, it is safe for humans and the environment. The product’s properties also affect the offspring of insects, restraining their further development and are suitable for treating storages with high humidity.

However, the choice of the product should be made depending on the situation and the specific case.

High-quality fumigation will help protect the grain, destroying insects and creating a barrier to re-infestation. The procedure is not easy and time-consuming, but the result is worth it!