grain storage in sand

Rolfe A. Leary (mailto:rleary@FORESTRY.UMN.EDU)
Wed, 25 Sep 1996 13:41:02 -0500

Message-ID:  <199609251841.NAA02243@mercury.forestry.umn.edu>
Date:         Wed, 25 Sep 1996 13:41:02 -0500
From: "Rolfe A. Leary" <mailto:rleary@FORESTRY.UMN.EDU>
Subject:      grain storage in sand
To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>

Netters:

I've read a couple of places that in Africa they store shelled/threshed grain in sand to protect it from insects. I have the following questions of someone having first hand experience -- just observing is OK too! -- with this method: 1) on what grains is it applied? 2) why does this "work"? 3) what is the ratio of sand to grain? 4) is a special kind of special sand used, or just "regular" stuff? 5) is the sand sieved for sizing depending on the grain? 6) have there been scientific studies to evaluate its effectiveness? 7) how widespead is the practice?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Published references are especially needed.

Many thanks,

Rolfe A. Leary Compatible Technology, Inc. St. Paul, Minnesota, USA