LOW COST POTATO STORAGE FOR THE TROPICS

In the highland tropics, the temperatures and diurnal ranges allow potatoes to be stored in low cost structures as ware or seed tubers for extended periods of time without serious losses.
Disease and insect free potatoes may be stored in bulk or in containers allowing ventilation.
Storage temperature near to the locality mean temperature is usual.
Night ventilation only is preferable as coolest and highest moisture percentage.
Dormancy of ware potatoes may be extended with I.P.C. and C.I.P.C. for storage up to 4 to 5 months with losses under 10% total.
Seed tubers may be held in shallow 75 mm layers in shaded daylight and free ventilation for several months without loss of vitality if aphis virus disease vectors and potato tubermoth are controlled.
Providing that the basic principles are followed, many existing storage containers and structures may be adapted for potato storage and low cost storage for seed and ware made available to the small scale potato farmers.
Existing meteorological data may be used to assess the possibilities for successful low cost storage in development areas.

X African Symposium on Horticultural Crops

G.L.T. Hunt

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1985.158.46