Modeling of Potato Shelf Life on Evaporative Cooling Storage

Abstract

A model of evaporative cooling storage system was designed to increase potato shelf life for improving potato storage system. Two cultivars of potato ‘Diamant’ (100 gm and 51 gm per tuber) and ‘LalPakri (23 gm and 11 gm per tuber) were placed on four shelves of the bin. Each shelf holds 240 kg of potato from 23 march 2013 to December 2013. Potato spoilage, sprouting, shrinkage, moisture content, vitamin C and total sugar content of potato were measured. Experimental results revealed that potato spoilage progressively increased from April to November and sprouting of potato gradually increased from June to October, but stopped in November. The cumulative spoilage and sprouting were much lower in the improved bin compared to traditional farmer’s practices. Shrinkage of potato was found higher in farmer’s practice than that of storage bin from October to November. Moisture content of potato was higher during May and reduced gradually to the lowest value during November in both of practices. No significant difference was found in two practices on vitamin-C content. Sugar content of ‘Diamant; potato was lower in the storage bin during November. According to data analysis and regression curve storage bin model was more appropriate for both cultivars than farmer practice and significantly more appropriate for ‘LalPakri’ potato.