Grain sampling with hand and pneumatic probes

Grain sampling is an essential step in grain storage and commercialization processes. Bulk grain sampling methods for bulk grains in storage units, cooperatives, and agro‐industrial facilities use various types of equipment, including manual and pneumatic grain probes. These methods may raise concerns among producers and technicians during grain reception regarding differences in impurity and moisture values. The objective of the research was to compare grain sampling using hand openings on the side of a manual probe with suction sampling using a pneumatic probe. Soybean ( Glycine max ), wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), and bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) were sampled. The experiment was conducted at Cooperative Frísia in Carambeí, Paraná, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments and 30 replications. The treatments consisted of grain sampling using a 2.10‐m hand probe (three stages) and suction sampling using a pneumatic probe. The replications were grain samples collected from 30 different trucks. The variables evaluated were the percentages of impurities and foreign material, grain weight including moisture content (MCwb), and damaged grains. The levels of impurities and foreign material ranged from 1.2% to 3.5%, moisture content from 17.2% to 23.5%, and damaged kernels from 1.9% to 7.3%. No significant differences were found between the sampling devices—whether using hand openings on the side of the probe or suction sampling with a pneumatic probe—for any variables analyzed in soybean, wheat, and dry bean grains.