**2.3. Weather data**

Air temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall data were collected using weather stations on the research stations.

the aflatoxin results. The tests for relationships were carried out using the Pearson Correlation

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

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

29

A summary of mean air temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall during the 2015–2016

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 pod-

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

**Month December January February March April** Average max temperature (°C) 34.1 30.5 31.4 31.9 30.8 Average min temperature (°C) 21.8 21.6 21.3 22.0 20.3 Cumulative rainfall (mm) 516.6 1300.6 568.7 800.4 859.7 Total number of rainy days 10 20 18 16 22 Relative humidity (%) 68 83 80 81 79

**Month December January February March April** Average max temperature (°C) 35.3 34.8 36.3 35.2 32 Average min temperature (°C) 33.2 29.6 32.1 32.3 29.7 Cumulative rainfall (mm) 232.9 469.6 299.8 799.1 43.9 Total number of rainy days 6 12 11 18 4 Relative humidity (%) 83 87.7 76.3 83 85

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.

growing season at Mapupulo Agricultural Research Center is presented in **Table 1**.

Index, and the interpretation was performed at two-sided 95% confidence limit.

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

**3. Results**

filling till H2.
