Abstract In Mexico, smallholder farmers use a variety of technologies to store their maize grain for several months, which may result in high losses in quantity and quality of grain. This work compared the effectiveness of different storage technologies for minimizing losses in smallholder conditions in 109 different locations from 21 to 2816 m above sea level (asl) across different agroecological zones of Mexico, under “controlled” (i.e. managed by researchers), and “non-controlled” conditions (i.e. on-farm managed by extension agents). Depending on the common practice at each site, conventional storage technologies (polypropylene bag with and/or without insecticide) were compared to alternative storage technologies (selected from hermetic metal silos, hermetic bags, recycled plastic containers, silage plastic bags, and inert dusts-micronized and standard lime) during one to 12 months. Data on grain damages were collected at the beginning and end of the storage period. Climatic variables and initial grain infestation with pests influenced the ability of a technology to minimize losses, particularly under tropical conditions. After six months of storage, percentages of insect-damaged grain with polypropylene bags, the most common farmers’ practice, were 39.4% and 4.1%, respectively, in lowlands ( 2000 m asl). With hermetic metal silos, percentages of insect-damaged grain after six months of storage were 3.8% on average in the highlands and similar in lowlands, with 2.9%. Hermetic technologies, which prevent the introduction of oxygen, were effective in reducing losses under farmers’ conditions across agroecological areas, regardless of storage time. Recycled hermetic containers had similar results and were a viable low-cost alternative to more expensive options like hermetic metal silos. With adequate technical support for their appropriate use, hermetic technologies have the potential to reduce grain losses during storage and strengthen food security in Mexico and Latin American countries with similar conditions.

中文翻译：

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密封储存技术减少墨西哥小农农业系统中玉米害虫的危害

摘要 在墨西哥，小农使用多种技术将玉米谷物储存数月，这可能导致谷物数量和质量的严重损失。这项工作比较了不同储存技术在墨西哥不同农业生态区海拔 21 至 2816 m 的 109 个不同地点在“受控”（即由研究人员管理）和“不受控制的”条件（即由推广代理管理的农场）。根据每个地点的惯例，将传统储存技术（含和/或不含杀虫剂的聚丙烯袋）与替代储存技术（选自密封金属筒仓、密封袋、回收塑料容器、青贮塑料袋、和惰性粉尘（微粉化和标准石灰）在 1 到 12 个月内。在储存期的开始和结束时收集谷物损坏的数据。气候变量和最初的谷物虫害影响了一项技术将损失降至最低的能力，尤其是在热带条件下。在储存 6 个月后，农民最常见的做法是用聚丙烯袋装虫害谷物，在低地（海拔 2000 米）分别为 39.4% 和 4.1%。使用密封金属筒仓，储存六个月后虫害谷物的百分比在高地平均为 3.8%，在低地类似，为 2.9%。防止氧气进入的密封技术可有效减少农业生态区农民条件下的损失，无论储存时间长短。回收的密封容器具有类似的结果，并且是比密封金属筒仓等更昂贵的选择可行的低成本替代品。在适当使用密封技术的充分技术支持下，密封技术有可能减少储存过程中的谷物损失，并加强墨西哥和具有类似条件的拉丁美洲国家的粮食安全。