EFFECT OF LOW-COST STORAGE METHODS ON SHELF-LIFE AND QUALITY OF ORANGE FLESHED SWEET POTATO (OFSP)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during April to July, 2023 in the laboratory of Horticulture, HSTU, Dinajpur with an objective to increase the shelf-life and quality of sweet potato. The two factor experiment was laid out in the completely randomized design with three replications. The sweet potato cultivars: V1=BARI Sweet Potato-4, V2=BARI Sweet Potato-12 and V3=local cultivar were stored in different storage methods viz., T1=Control, T2=sand box, T3=sawdust box and T4=empty wooden box. The stored roots were monitored over a period of 15, 30 and 45 days of storage. Parameters studied in the experiment were: on weight loss (%), firmness (kg/cm²), percentage of decay, percentage of incidence of weevil/storage pests, dry weight percentage, changes in color, content of β-carotene (mg/100g of fresh wt.), content of Vitamin-C (mg/100g of fresh wt.). Data ware recorded carefully and statistically analyzed and interpreted. In all cases, roots did not expose in control(T1) lost weight rapidly and decay after 15 DAS and became unmarketable. The present experiment showed that the roots of sweet potato stored in sawdust (T3) had low weight loss, maintained better skin color and firmness (external and internal), low infestation of insect and disease and contain of Vitamin-A then other storage. However, the highest accumulation of dry matter and highest level of Vitamin-C was recorded in T2. It is recorded from the present study that V1 perform better in all parameter studied except external and internal firmness. Overall, T3V1 found the best treatment combination regarding weight loss, infestation of insect and disease, maintain better skin color, internal firmness, Vitamin- C. Therefore, sawdust storage method appears to be significant advantage for storing BARI sweet potato-4.