Storage of potato

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
1. Rotting
2. Weight loss / shrinkage
3. Sprouting
4. Greening
5. Sweetening
 Storage of potato

Recommended storage conditions

 Storage of potato

Highlights of potato storage

1. Harvest crop at 10-20oC

2. Remove field heat
3. Maintain wound healing temperature (< 21oC, RH 95% for 15-30
days)
4. Reduce temperature @ 0.5 oC per day for 7 – 10 days for long
term storage. Faster rates may cause sugar build up and dark
surfaces.
5. Maintain 95-98% RH to avoid shrinkage
6. Avoid excess accumulation of soil debris for maintaining proper
ventilation
7. Dampness may cause decay. It is best not to wash potatoes
before long term storage.
 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 @ 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.
 Storage of potato
Storage Problems in Potato
 Storage of potato

Storage Problems in Potato

 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.

Source: http://agmarknet.nic.in/profile-potato.pdf http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/assets/potatoes_in_soil

 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 :
1. Select storage site in places like under the shade of trees,
preferably in orchard with raised sand / soil platform of 20-
25 cm height.
2. For reducing rotting incidence during storage, spray
Mancozeb (0.3-0.5%) on the soil/sand.
3. Sort out cracked, cut, bruised, damaged, green and rotted
tubers before storage.
4. Use polythene sheet for covering the heaps for protection
from rains.
5. 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.
6. Loading of potatoes may be done in the morning since the
temperature is low in comparison to noon.
 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
 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/uploads/2010/08/Ethiopia_Potato-storage-
Source: http://agmarknet.nic.in/profile- http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/X5415E/x5415e0 building-at-Jaldu-Epicentre-300x200.jpg
potato.pdf 3.jpg
 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-
Source: http://agmarknet.nic.in/profile-potato.pdf Potato-Basket-CH10-W0005-.jpg
 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-/s5001255-250x250.jpg http://www.constructionweekonline.in/pictures/MJ%20Log.jpg
 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.