Question

How does biotic and abiotic factirs affect storage of grain ?Explain

Answer 1

1) Abiotic factors: The abiotic factors means the non-living things like temperature, moisture, soil, water etc. They affect the growth of different crops. For example, rice requires more water as compared to wheat. Inappropriate moisture and temperature in the place of storage also affect the stored grains. These factors cause degradation in quality, loss in weight, poor germinability, discolouration of produce, all leading to poor marketability.
2) Biotic factors: Biotic factors means the living things. The biotic factors like insects, fungi, nematodes, etc. cause diseases in the plants while the earthworms and nitrogen fixing bacteria help to improve the fertility of the soil. Thus, it is essential to control the growth of insects, fungi and nematodes. The rodents at the place of storage also affect the grains.