Agronomist dictionary: Storage and economics

A

Storage and economics

Active ventilation

The forced circulation of air through a bulk of agricultural crops to control temperature and moisture levels for safe storage.

B

Storage and economics

Baking quality indicator

A set of grain properties that determine its suitability for producing bread with specific volume, texture, and structural characteristics.

Storage and economics

Base moisture content

This is a standardized moisture level in grain or seeds, set by industry regulations, to ensure safe long-term storage and fair commercial transactions.

Storage and economics

Bulk density

The mass of a unit volume of dry soil or granular material, including the air-filled pore space between particles.

C

Storage and economics

Combine harvester throughput

The maximum amount of crop material that a combine's threshing and separating system can process per unit of time while maintaining harvest quality and minimal...

Storage and economics

Conditioned grain

This is grain that meets established quality standards and regulatory moisture requirements, making it safe for long-term storage or processing without risk of...

Storage and economics

Continuous drying

A grain drying method where the product moves through the dryer in a steady, uninterrupted flow without pauses for heating or cooling cycles.

Storage and economics

Cost per hectare

This is the total sum of all direct and indirect expenses incurred by an agricultural producer to cultivate a crop on one hectare of land.

Storage and economics

Critical moisture content

This is the maximum level of moisture at which grain can be stored safely without the risk of heating, spoilage, or microbial growth.

D

Storage and economics

Direct harvesting

A harvesting method where cutting and threshing of crops are performed in a single pass of the combine harvester across the field.

E

Storage and economics

Economic threshold of harvest losses

It is the critical level of crop loss at which the value of the harvested grain equals the cost of implementing measures to prevent further loss.

G

Storage and economics

Gluten

A group of structural proteins that provides elasticity and texture to dough, formed when water is mixed with wheat flour.

Storage and economics

Grain admixtures

These are grains of the main crop that differ from sound, mature grains due to physical damage, immaturity, or biological degradation, but are not classified as...

Storage and economics

Grain aeration

This is the process of forcing air through a grain bulk to reduce its temperature, remove excess moisture, and prevent spoilage during storage.

Storage and economics

Grain bagging

This is a storage technology for grain and forage that involves placing agricultural products into hermetically sealed, large-capacity plastic bags directly on...

Storage and economics

Grain compaction coefficient

A numerical value representing the reduction in volume of a grain mass when it settles under its own weight or external pressure.

Storage and economics

Grain conditioning to base standards

A set of technological operations involving cleaning, drying, and aeration to bring grain quality parameters in line with official or contractual standards.

Storage and economics

Grain fractional composition

The distribution of grain mass based on the size, shape, or density of individual kernels, expressed as a percentage of different categories.

Storage and economics

Grain grading

A system of classifying grain based on specific physical and chemical quality standards that determine its final commercial value and suitability for processing...

Storage and economics

Grain screenings

These are by-products of grain cleaning and processing, consisting of undersized, damaged kernels, weed seeds, chaff, and other plant debris.

Storage and economics

Grain self-heating

Grain self-heating is the process of temperature rise within a grain bulk caused by increased respiration of grain, microorganisms, and pests due to high moistu...

Storage and economics

Grain uniformity

A quality metric representing the consistency of grain size within a batch, measured by the percentage of kernels retained on specific sieve sizes.

Storage and economics

Grain weight loss due to drying

This is the inevitable reduction in the physical weight of a grain batch caused by the removal of excess moisture during the thermal drying process.

Storage and economics

Gross harvest

The total volume of agricultural produce harvested from the entire area of a specific crop across a farm, region, or country.

H

Storage and economics

Harvest maturity

The physiological stage of a crop when it reaches the peak of quality and quantity required for effective harvesting, processing, and storage.

Storage and economics

Header grain losses

This is the portion of the crop that fails to enter the combine harvester and remains on the field due to improper header settings or mechanical issues.

Storage and economics

Hidden self-heating

A process of temperature rise inside a grain or seed bulk that occurs without noticeable heating of the upper layers or the external surface of the material.

M

Storage and economics

Machine Utilization Rate

A performance metric representing the ratio of actual operating time to the total available time a machine is held within a farming operation over a specific pe...

Storage and economics

Marketability of grain

A quality indicator representing the proportion of primary grain in a batch that meets trade standards and is suitable for commercial sale.

Storage and economics

Maximum permissible losses

An economically justified level of crop loss where the cost of control measures does not exceed the value of the saved yield.

Storage and economics

Moisture conversion factor

This is a mathematical factor used to adjust the weight of agricultural commodities to a standard moisture level for accurate storage and trade calculations.

N

Storage and economics

Natural mass

The actual weight of agricultural products as measured at the point of receipt or sale, regardless of moisture content or purity levels.

Storage and economics

Negative allowance

A method of reducing the seed sowing rate based on superior seed quality, such as high laboratory germination and Thousand Kernel Weight (TKW).

P

Storage and economics

Physical grain mass

This is the actual total weight of a grain batch at its natural moisture content, determined by weighing without adjusting for impurities or standard moisture l...

Storage and economics

Physical mass of a grain lot

It is the actual weight of a grain lot measured in kilograms or tonnes, determined by direct weighing without adjustments for moisture content or impurities.

Storage and economics

Physiological maturity

The stage of plant development when seeds or fruits reach their maximum dry weight and are fully capable of germination.

Storage and economics

Porosity of grain bulk

Porosity is the fraction of the volume of voids between grain kernels relative to the total volume of the grain bulk.

Storage and economics

Post-harvest processing line

A system of interconnected machinery designed for the continuous cleaning, drying, and sorting of grain immediately after harvest.

Storage and economics

Production profitability

A key economic indicator that measures the efficiency of agricultural production by comparing the net profit earned against the total costs incurred during the...

R

Storage and economics

Residual moisture

The amount of water remaining in soil or agricultural produce after natural drying, evaporation, or drainage processes have occurred.

S

Storage and economics

Seed dormancy period

This is a physiological state where seeds fail to germinate even under favorable environmental conditions until specific internal maturation processes are compl...

Storage and economics

Shrinkage

The process of weight and volume loss in agricultural products caused by the evaporation of moisture during storage, drying, or transportation.

Storage and economics

Specific air flow rate

The amount of air delivered per unit of time relative to the volume or mass of agricultural produce being processed or stored.

Storage and economics

Specific fuel consumption

This is a measure of the amount of fuel used to complete a specific unit of agricultural work, such as per hectare of tilled land or per tonne of harvested crop...

Storage and economics

Starch content

The proportion of starch in a tuber (%); determines the culinary type of the variety.

Storage and economics

Storability

The intrinsic ability of harvested fruits, vegetables, or seeds to maintain their quality, nutritional value, and marketable appearance during a specific storag...

Storage and economics

Storage moisture content

This is the amount of water present in grains or seeds that determines their stability and prevents deterioration during storage.

Storage and economics

Stored product pests

Insects and mites that infest stored grains, processed food products, and seeds in warehouses, grain elevators, and storage facilities.

T

Storage and economics

Technological losses

These are losses of agricultural produce that occur during harvesting, transport, or processing due to technical limitations and operational farming practices.

Storage and economics

Threshing efficiency

This is the ratio of the mass of grain actually threshed out of the ear or head to the total mass of grain present before the harvesting process begins.

Storage and economics

Two-stage harvesting

A harvesting method where crops are first cut into windrows to mature and dry, followed by a separate operation of threshing using a combine harvester with a pi...

V

Storage and economics

Varietal purity

Varietal purity is a metric indicating the degree to which seeds or plants conform to the specific morphological and biological characteristics of a given culti...

Storage and economics

Voidage of grain bulk

It is the ratio of the volume of intergranular air spaces to the total volume occupied by the grain mass, expressed as a percentage.

W

Storage and economics

Weed admixture

Weed admixture refers to foreign materials, including weed seeds and plant debris, present in a grain sample that reduce its commercial quality and storage stab...

Y

Storage and economics

Yield in accounting weight

The net weight of agricultural produce after cleaning and drying, adjusted to meet standard moisture and impurity levels.