Articles
Evaluation of the suitability of prototype wooden bulk packages for transportation of leeks (Allium porum) in Nuwara-Eliya to Dambulla vegetable supply chain in Sri Lanka
Article number
1278_17
Pages
111 – 116
Language
English
Abstract
Leek (Allium porum) is an economically important vegetable which occupies a prominent position among vegetables grown in Sri Lanka.
Due to variation in length of leek stem, currently available packages are not suitable for transportation and the annual postharvest loss is reported to be 15.7%. This study evaluated the suitability of prototype wooden bulk packages developed for transportation of leek in Nuwara Eliya to Dambulla supply chain (~432 km) in Sri Lanka.
In this experiment, wooden packages were used with different filling heights.
The treatments used were; T1 75×45×25 cm with filling height 20 cm, T2 75×45×30 cm with filling height 25 cm, T3 75×45×25 cm with filling height 25 cm, T4 75×45×30 cm with filling height 20 cm, and T5 80×45×30 cm with filling height 25 cm.
Existing transport package that is wrapped with poly sacks was used as a control.
All the treatments were used in triplicate and the data were analyzed using SAS statistical package and the non-parametric data were analyzed by Friedman test using MINITAB. During transportation, temperature, relative humidity, respiration rate and the ethylene production were measured at four-hour intervals.
To evaluate the product quality, Visual quality rating (VQR), mechanical damages, wilting and physical damages were measured before and after transportation.
After transportation, the produce was stored in the ambient condition at 28-30°C, 75-80% RH. Firmness, TSS, VQR, weight loss, (%) physical damages, yellowing index and wilting were measured in each day, for three days.
Leeks packed in T2 75×45×30 cm box with filling height 25 cm showed better quality characteristics during transportation by having lower respiration rate together with low ethylene production (α=0.05), less temperature generation inside the package helping to protect its freshness (α=0.05) and reduced the wilting %, and weight loss by retaining higher rating in visual quality at the end of storage.
Due to variation in length of leek stem, currently available packages are not suitable for transportation and the annual postharvest loss is reported to be 15.7%. This study evaluated the suitability of prototype wooden bulk packages developed for transportation of leek in Nuwara Eliya to Dambulla supply chain (~432 km) in Sri Lanka.
In this experiment, wooden packages were used with different filling heights.
The treatments used were; T1 75×45×25 cm with filling height 20 cm, T2 75×45×30 cm with filling height 25 cm, T3 75×45×25 cm with filling height 25 cm, T4 75×45×30 cm with filling height 20 cm, and T5 80×45×30 cm with filling height 25 cm.
Existing transport package that is wrapped with poly sacks was used as a control.
All the treatments were used in triplicate and the data were analyzed using SAS statistical package and the non-parametric data were analyzed by Friedman test using MINITAB. During transportation, temperature, relative humidity, respiration rate and the ethylene production were measured at four-hour intervals.
To evaluate the product quality, Visual quality rating (VQR), mechanical damages, wilting and physical damages were measured before and after transportation.
After transportation, the produce was stored in the ambient condition at 28-30°C, 75-80% RH. Firmness, TSS, VQR, weight loss, (%) physical damages, yellowing index and wilting were measured in each day, for three days.
Leeks packed in T2 75×45×30 cm box with filling height 25 cm showed better quality characteristics during transportation by having lower respiration rate together with low ethylene production (α=0.05), less temperature generation inside the package helping to protect its freshness (α=0.05) and reduced the wilting %, and weight loss by retaining higher rating in visual quality at the end of storage.
Authors
R.M.N.A. Wijewardhane, T.M.R. Dissanayake, W.M.C.B. Wasala
Keywords
bulk package, leek (Allium porum), storage life, postharvest loss, transportation
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