Soybean seed storage: Packaging technologies and conditions of storage environments

Artificial refrigeration is sufficient for maintaining the quality of soybean seeds in storage in processing plants, but when lots are distributed to rural producers, they are often kept in natural environments, without temperature or relative humidity control, which decreases their germination rates. This research aimed to evaluate different storage conditions and technological packaging for soybean seeds. The first stage evaluated the quality of soybean seeds stored at different temperatures for up to one year in raffia bags with or without polyethylene inner liners. The second stage evaluated the quality of soybean seeds stored in a natural atmosphere in raffia or laminated packaging, in a modified atmosphere with polyethylene packaging, in a refrigerated atmosphere with raffia or laminated packaging, or in a modified and refrigerated atmosphere with polyethylene packaging. An increase in storage time had a negative influence on the quality of the stored seeds. Storage temperature was the main influence in the reduction in seed physiological quality. Storage of soybean seeds in raffia packaging coated with polyethylene in a natural-temperature environment resulted in seeds retaining similar physical and physiological qualities to those stored under refrigeration. Raffia packaging coated with laminated material maintained the best physical and physiological quality of soybean seeds stored over time. Optimal packaging technology with laminated coating in “big bag” format has replaced the conditioning of storage environments with the maintenance of the quality of soybean seeds over time. The packaging technology is an excellent alternative for the soybean processing units.