Storage of potato

1
Storage of potato
Next
2
Storage of potato
Potato storage
Keeping potato tubers (fresh/ processed) in safe
condition with minimum deteriorative changes for
later use (marketing as fresh or processing or
use as seed)

• Common deteriorative changes / problems in potato
  storage
• Rotting
• Weight loss / shrinkage
• Sprouting
• Greening
• Sweetening

Next
End
3
Storage of potato
Recommended storage conditions
Next
End
Previous
4
Storage of potato
Highlights of potato storage

• Harvest crop at 10-20oC
• Remove field heat
• Maintain wound healing temperature (lt 21oC, RH
  95 for 15-30
• days)
• 4. Reduce temperature _at_ 0.5 oC per day for 7
  10 days for long term storage. Faster rates may
  cause sugar build up and dark surfaces.
• Maintain 95-98 RH to avoid shrinkage
• Avoid excess accumulation of soil debris for
  maintaining proper ventilation
• Dampness may cause decay. It is best not to wash
  potatoes before long term storage.

End
Next
Previous
5
Storage of potato
Storage phases of potato
EQUALIZATION/ DRYING PHASE Surface moisture is
dried. Fan is used for ventilation
WOUND HEALING / PRE CONDITIONING PHASE
10-20oC and 85-95 RH for 15-30 days. Avoid
water condensation
COOLING PHASE Temp. Brought down to 7 10 oC
_at_ 0.5 to 1.0 oC per day. Cooling air temp not
less than 1.5 oC and preferably 85-95 RH
HOLDING PHASE Temp. and RH maintained. Use
ventilation to avoid CO2 build up.
RECONDITIONING PHASE Warming up to temp.
within 5 oC of handling temperature to avoid
condensation and handling damage and recover
colour.
End
Next
Previous
6
Storage of potato
Storage Problems in Potato
End
Next
Previous
7
Storage of potato
Storage Problems in Potato
End
Next
Previous
8
Storage of potato
Traditional Storage Structures/ Systems
a) In situ storage Farmers delay the harvesting
of potato tubers and allow them to remain in
soil. This method is used for short term storage
of 2-3 months only in upland and lowland areas of
north-eastern states. Recommended practices 1.
Cover the potato beds with grass. This provides
shade and cooling effect to the potatoes in
upland areas. 2. Cover the potato beds with paddy
crop. This provides shade and cooling effect to
the potatoes in lowland areas.
http//www.gardenorganic.org.uk/assets/potatoes_in
_soil
Source http//agmarknet.nic.in/profile-potato.pdf
End
Next
Previous
9
Storage of potato
Traditional Storage Structures/ Systems
b) Heap storage Potatoes are heaped under the
shade of trees, where 6-30 tonnes of potatoes can
be stored. The heaps are covered with a 30 cm
thick layer of straw. This is a popular storage
method practiced in U.P, Maharashtra and
Karnataka.

• Recommended practices
• Select storage site in places like under the
  shade of trees, preferably in orchard with raised
  sand / soil platform of 20-25 cm height.
• For reducing rotting incidence during storage,
  spray Mancozeb (0.3-0.5) on the soil/sand.
• Sort out cracked, cut, bruised, damaged, green
  and rotted tubers before storage.
• Use polythene sheet for covering the heaps for
  protection from rains.
• Cover the heaped potatoes with 0.3 mt-0.45 mt.
  straw material (wheat, paddy), placing two layers
  of locally made mat (chatai) in crosswise
  direction which improves the efficiency of heap
  storage.
• Loading of potatoes may be done in the morning
  since the temperature is low in comparison to
  noon.

End
Next
Previous
10
Storage of potato
Traditional Storage Structures/ Systems
c) Pit storage Two types of pits are prepared
i.e. katchha and pucca pits. Katchha pit is
rectangular in shape measures 4.5 mt. (length) x
3.6 mt. (width) x 14 mt.(depth) whereas pucca
pit is normally circular in shape with a diameter
of about 4.2 mt. All the pits are covered with
0.3 m. thick available straw material (wheat,
paddy). It is a popular storage method in Madhya
Pradesh. Recommended practices 1. Follow all
cultural practices, recommendations applicable in
heap storage method. 2. Always store disease free
and cured potatoes. 3. Measure the soil moisture
level for determinations of depth of pit. 4. Keep
the length and width of the pit according to the
quantity of potatoes to be stored. 5. Maintain an
average 25.6oC of temperature and 66 percent
relative humidity.
http//farm6.static.flickr.com/
http//www.nivaa.nl/explorer/pagina/pictures
End
Previous
Next
11
Storage of potato
Traditional Storage Structures/ Systems
d) Wooden storage structure Small wooden rooms
like stores about 10 ft. heights are built in the
field or near residential area. The walls are
built by horizontally fixed overlapping wooden
planks which help in preventing seepage in store
and running off the rain water. The roof of the
store is covered with tin sheet and a gap is left
between roof and wall for aeration purpose. Seed
potatoes sometimes can also be placed in trays
for periodic sorting. e) Storage in rooms
These small rooms are built of bricks/ stones /
cement at the ground floor of residence building.
The potatoes are stored in this storage either in
heaps, gunny bags or in bamboo baskets.
http//www.thehungerproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploa
ds/2010/08/Ethiopia_Potato-storage-building-at-Jal
du-Epicentre-300x200.jpg
Source http//agmarknet.nic.in/profile-potato.pdf
http//www.fao.org/DOCREP/X5415E/x5415e03.jpg
End
Previous
Next
12
Storage of potato
Traditional Storage Structures/ Systems
f) Storage in baskets In north eastern states,
potatoes are stored in bamboo baskets of 10-100
Kg capacity. Smaller baskets are known as polo
which provides better aeration to the tubers. The
baskets are made of different size suitable for
use as they are convenient to carry to the
fields. Some baskets are meant specifically with
partially open bottom end to facilitate removal
of potatoes for daily use. g) Storage in layers
Platforms of bamboo or wooden planks are
constructed by the support of the store wall on
one side and bamboo on the other side. It
provides better space utilization and helps to
minimize rotting of potato.
http//image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00EMhTYQlWBGzi/
Windoow-Potato-Basket-CH10-W0005-.jpg
Source http//agmarknet.nic.in/profile-potato.pdf
End
Previous
Next
13
Storage of potato
Improved Storage Structures/ Systems
a) Storage at low temperature The low
temperature (at 2-4oC and 8-10oC) is the most
common method for potato storage. Recommended
practices 1. Store seed potatoes at 2-4oC as no
sprouting takes place at this temperature and
metabolic process goes down. Besides, low
temperature, sweetening is of little importance
in case of seed potatoes. 2. Store potatoes for
export and processing purposes at 8-10oC, will
not only save a lot of energy but also make the
potatoes more suitable for consumption,
processing and export. 3. Use sprout suppressants
like CIPC isopropyl-N-(Chlorophynyl) carbamate
to check the sprouting while potatoes are stored
at 8-10oC.
http//2.imimg.com/data2/FY/GR/MY-/s5001255-250x25
0.jpg
http//www.constructionweekonline.in/pictures/MJ2
0Log.jpg
End
Previous
Next
14
Storage of potato
Improved Storage Structures/ Systems
b) Storage at 10-12oC This storage method is
suitable for potatoes for processing and export.
Recommended practices 1. Store processing
potatoes and ware potatoes at 10-12oC with CIPC
treatment. 2. Use refrigerated containers for
export of potatoes stored at 10-12oC with CIPC
treatment when the transit time of export is more
than 10 days. 3. Ship CIPC treated potatoes
stored at 10-12oC in non refrigerated container
for exporting to neighbour countries like Sri
Lanka and Gulf countries with transit time less
than 3-4 days.
End
Previous