TÉCNICAS DE SECADO Y CALIDAD DE GRANO DE MAÍZ (Zea mays L).

Abstract

CORN IS ONE OF THE MOST CONSUMED CEREALS IN THE WORLD, IT IS OF ECONOMIC, HUMAN AND ANIMAL IMPORTANCE. THE DRYING PROCESS APPLIED TO THE CORN GRAINS ALLOWS TO REDUCE THE HUMIDITY PRESENT IN THE GRAIN SINCE IT IS A DETERMINING PARAMETER FOR ITS STORAGE, THE MAIN OBJECTIVE BEING TO MINIMIZE THE HUMIDITY OF THE HARVEST OF GRAINS AND SEEDS UNTIL AN ADEQUATE HUMIDITY OF SAFE STORAGE, FOR TO ACHIEVE ADEQUATE CONSERVATION, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS LIMITING THE GERMINATION OF THE SEEDS, MINIMIZING THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE GRAINS TO A LEVEL THAT PREVENTS THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI, AND AVOIDING DETERIORATION REACTIONS. DRYING TECHNIQUES INCLUDE: BATCH AND CONTINUOUS FLOW DRYING - CONTAINERDRYING - LAYER DRYING - PORTABLE BATCH AND CONTINUOUS FLOW DRYING - COMBINED DRYING - CORN DRYING WITH NATURAL AIR AND LOW TEMPERATURE.