Abstract
Research was carried out to evaluate the influence of diatomaceous earth (DE) on proximate composition and to determine the optimal dosage of DE for maintaining seed quality of stored maize at different levels (0.0kg DE/100 kg maize, 0.75 kg DE/100 kg maize, 1.50 kg DE/100 kg maize, 2.25 kg DE/100 kg maize and 3.0 kg DE/100 kg maize). The seeds were stored in the laboratory of College of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike for 30 weeks. Proximate analyses were carried out at the Faculty of Crop Science Laboratory, University of Nigeria, Nsukka before and after storage. The first experiment (before storage) was laid out in complete randomize design while the second experiment (after storage) was laid out in 5 x 5 factorial fitted in CRD. Both experiments were replicated three times. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and treatment means were separated using least significant difference at (p ≤ 0.05) level of probability. The results showed that first experiment before storage did not differ among the varieties for ash, carbohydrate (CHO), protein, moisture, crude fat and fibre while the second experiment after storage showed that CHO, protein, fibre, ash, moisture and fat contents were all influenced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) due to levels of DE, variety and their interactions. Proximate analysis of the maize stored with DE had a slight increase in carbohydrate. Crude fat and fibre increased as the levels of DE increased while protein decreased with increased level of DE. Bende white had higher values for ash, crude fat and carbohydrate while Sammaz 27 had highest amount of protein, crude fibre and moisture content. For maximum proximate composition, store with 1.5 kg DE/100 kg maize for ash content, 3.00 kg DE for crude fat and fibre and 0.75 kg DE/100 kg maize for carbohydrate. For maximum protein composition, do not preserve maize with DE.
Key words: Diatomaceous earth, proximate composition, maize, seed quality, storage periodjaerem NEW 1Okoronkwo 22
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