ASABE 2018 Annual International Meeting Page 2 An ASABE Meeting Presentation DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.201800802 Paper Number: 1800802 VARIATIONS IN NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF STORED COWPEA IT96D-610K IN WOODEN AND STEEL STRUCTURES 1 Ajayi-Banji, Ibukunoluwa Omotola 2 Sunmonu, Musliu Olushola 1 Ogunyemi, Adesola Abosede 1 Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria 2 Department of Food Engineering, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria Written for presentation at the 2018 ASABE Annual International Meeting Sponsored by ASABE Detroit, Michigan July 29-August 1, 2018 ABSTRACT. Grain quality and quantity reduction during storage is a global challenge that must be addressed in order to ensure food security. With grains comprising a high percentage amongst food crops consumed over the world, it remains a nutritious and healthy food source for all population types. Cowpea grains remain an inexpensive and rich source of protein needed for tissue development and crude fiber that aids digestibility in humans. Hence there is a need to store and retain these nutritional parameters during storage till consumption. This paper investigates diatomaceous earth (DE) effects on the nutrient composition (crude protein and crude fiber) of stored cowpea variety (IT96D-610K) in wooden and galvanized mild steel structures. Twenty-eight thousand grams of cowpea at a moisture content of 9.8% was admixed with 21g of ground crude diatomaceous earth having a particle size of 0.075mm. Six small scale prototype structures made of two different materials (wooden and galvanized mild steel (GMS)) were developed and used in the storage of the cowpea for a 16-week period under room temperature. Effects of storage time and storage structures on nutritional parameters such as crude protein and crude fiber were determined. Significant differences (p<0.05) was observed between the control sample and the treated samples. A general decrease in the crude protein content of 0.19% was observed throughout the period of sixteen weeks’ storage. A significant reduction of 0.07% was seen in crude protein content between the initial crude protein content and the control having (zero concentration) of DE. Crude protein decreased with increased storage period in both storage structures (wooden and galvanized mild steel (GMS)) with GMS being most effective in storage. The (control) DE having zero concentration, (0g/100g) showed a negligible increase of 0.01% in the crude fiber content throughout the period of storage. The crude fiber content of the stored cowpea in the storage structures showed an increase of 0.03% in its value. Both wooden and GMS storage structures had same effect on the crude fiber content at the end of storage. Keywords. Cowpeas, storage, structures, nutrition, composition, diatomaceous earth. The authors are solely responsible for the content of this meeting presentation. The presentation does not necessarily reflect the official position of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and its printing and distribution does not constitute an endorsement of views which may be expressed. Meeting presentations are not subject to the formal peer review process by ASABE editorial committees; therefore, they are not to be presented as refereed publications. Publish your paper in our journal after successfully completing the peer review process. See www.asabe.org/JournalSubmission for details. Citation of this work should state that it is from an ASABE meeting paper. EXAMPLE: Author’s Last Name, Initials. 2018. Title of presentation. ASABE Paper No. ---. St. Joseph, MI.: ASABE. For information about securing permission to reprint or reproduce a meeting presentation, please contact ASABE at www.asabe.org/permissions (2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 USA). 1