silo

A silo is a storage structure designed to hold bulk materials in a vertical or near-vertical arrangement. In agriculture, silos protect grain and silage from moisture, spoilage, and pests, while enabling controlled storage and later discharge for feeding or processing. In industry, silos store bulk commodities such as cement, coal, grain flour, or other granular materials, often as part of a larger handling system.

Types and design vary by use. Agricultural silos are typically tall, cylindrical structures made of reinforced concrete, steel, or, less commonly, wood. They include tower silos and horizontal forms such as bunker silos and bag silos. Grain silos may be vented and equipped with aeration or moisture-control systems to preserve quality, whereas silage silos are designed to support fermentation and may be sealed or vented to manage gases. Industrial silos are usually concrete or steel, with a conical discharge bottom that connects to conveyors or augers. Silos may be partitioned into compartments to store different materials or grades.

Discharge and operation often rely on bottom discharge mechanisms, augers, or gravity-fed outlets. Features commonly found on silos include access hatches, ventilation or aeration fans, temperature or moisture sensors, dust control, and roof-mounted vents. Proper maintenance focuses on preventing moisture ingress, corrosion, pest intrusion, and structural failure, as well as mitigating dust explosions associated with fine powders or grains.

In broader usage, the term silo also appears in organizational and information technology contexts, where it describes isolated data stores or operational units that limit cross-department communication and integration, a phenomenon known as information silos.