**3.1. Weather data at CIAM and PAN during 2015–2016 growing season**

A summary of mean air temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall during the 2015–2016 growing season at Mapupulo Agricultural Research Center is presented in **Table 1**.

The mean daily air temperature during the pod-filling period was about 26.3°C up until H1.

Although the mean daily temperature declined to around 24.5°C by H3, the site received a total rainfall of 684.6 by H1 and 830 mm between H2 and H3, respectively, of which 50–65% fell during the pod-filling period. Additionally, there was also some postharvest rainfall during the drying period, with 37.2 mm falling between H2 and H3. The average relative humidity was between 80 and 85% during the groundnut harvesting and drying periods. However, overall there were generally high temperatures and heavy rainfall during the podfilling till H2.

Nampula Research Station received lower rainfall during the 2015–2016 growing season compared to CIAM (**Table 2**). The site received rainfall of 299.8 mm (for only 11 days) during pod-filling, and the location experienced a mid-season drought (February).


**Table 1.** Weather data during the 2015–2016 growing season at CIAM.


**Table 2.** Weather data during the 2015–2016 growing season at PAN.

However, significant higher rainfall fell during H1, while H2 and H3 experienced a prolonged end of season drought. The mean daily air temperatures during the pod-filling period at PAN were higher ranging from 30 to 35°C by H1 to H3. Additionally, the location experienced very high relative humidity ranging from 75 to 85%.

moisture content of the variety and the thinner layer of the shell. The variety *ICGV-SM-01514* took the longest time to dry irrespective of the drying method and this could be attributed to

Effect of Harvesting Time and Drying Methods on Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnut in Mozambique

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77300

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Aflatoxin contamination levels among groundnut varieties at different harvesting times are presented in **Figure 3**. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) were observed in the mean aflatoxin contamination levels with physiological maturity (H2) having the lowest aflatoxin contamination levels (≤10 ppb). The highest aflatoxin contamination levels were recorded when

the thicker shell of the variety which led to slower moisture loss.

**Figure 2.** Kernel moisture loss when using tarpaulins.

**Figure 3.** Aflatoxin levels in groundnuts as affected by harvesting time.

**3.3. Effect of harvesting time on groundnut aflatoxin contamination**
