Archives

The study looked at measures for improving the storage life of sweet potato in the Coastal savanna zone of Ghana. Three varieties of sweet potato, TIS 86-3017, TIS 8266 and local variety, Local Cape Coast, were stored in a designed evaporative barn and storability of tubers was studied. Psychrometric studies of the barn showed that the evaporator reduced temperature and relative humidity variations inside the barn as compared to ambient conditions. Maximum daily temperature was reduced by an average of 3.2 oC. Minimum daily relative humilities were increased by an average of 7.3% in the evaporative barn and these could account for prevention of drastic reduction in weight and shrinkage. Storage of tubers in the barn reduced weight loss, weevil infestation and shrinkage of tubers as compared to room storage over a period of thirteen weeks. Varietal effect on weight loss, weevil infestation and fungal decay in storage was significant. The evaporative barn stored sweet potato tubers for between 5-10 weeks.
Key words: Evaporative barn, Psychrometric studies, Shelf life, Sweet potato.