Effects of inclusion of local pepper powder or salt to cowpea seeds during storage

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of inclusion of local pepper powder and salt admixture on cowpea seeds during storage. One gram of pepper powder was added to two kilograms (kg) of cowpea seeds and packaged inside bagco^® bag, also one gram of pepper powder with one gram of salt were added to two kilogram of cowpea seeds and packaged inside bagco^® bag while two kilograms of cowpea seeds only was packaged inside bagco^® bag and serves as a control for aforementioned two samples. The three samples were stored at ambient condition for five weeks and the number of weevil and the weight of each sample were recorded every week.The results showed that the number of weevil in control sample during storage ranging from 18 to 20 while other two samples ranging from 3 to 5 weevils. Also, during the storage period, the weight of control sample decreased from (2.00  to 1.73) kg , but the weight of sample with pepper powder increased from (2.00  to 2.04) kg while the sample with pepper powder and salt increased from (2.00  to 2.08) kg. The results showed that the reduction of the weight of control sample may be attributed to weevils infestation of the cowpea seeds during storage. The increase in the weight of other two samples may be attributed to preservation (pepper powder and salt) added to the sample during storage. The study showed that the preservatives used for cowpea seeds retard the growth of adult and larva weevils during storage period. Therefore, usage of pepper powder and salt could be useful for the preservation of cowpea seeds during storage without any adverse effect.

Key words: cowpea seeds, local pepper powder, salt, preservatives, storage, weevil infestation.