The need to ventilate and cool in potato storages

December 20, 2022

These processes include the production of proteins and starch. Where photosynthesis incorporates carbon dioxide, respiration releases it. Photosynthesis is a reduction process that requires energy, respiration is an oxidizing process where energy is released as heat. As a result, potatoes after harvest no longer accumulate sugars that are transformed into starch, as they did before harvest when still growing. After harvest, they only respire sugars producing carbon dioxide and heat (C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ -> 6CO₂ + 6 H₂O + energy).

Unfavorable conditions

With tubers piled in bulk in a heap, in bags or boxes they accumulate carbon dioxide and heat, two conditions that disfavor their storability. The respiration rate of all living organisms including potato tubers rises with temperature and the temperature of the potato tubers increases with respiration. These two selfreinforcing activities are stopped or reversed when the tubers are ventilated to cool down and remove carbon dioxide. There are other sources of heat that need to be removed from the store: the additional heat introduced by the tubers when harvested at high temperature, leakage of heat from outside notwithstanding insulation and heat leaks through doors and shutters. Besides, machines such as fans also produce heat that needs to be removed from the store.

You may also be interested in:

Restrain appoints Dr. Benedikt Cramer as new Managing Director

Restrain, provider of ethylene-based sprout control solutions in potatoes, has announced the appointment of Dr. Benedikt Cramer as its new Managing Director, while current MD Dirk Garos will take up the new role of Strategic Director. By strengthening its leadership team, Restrain is aiming to maximize its technology’s potential to contribute to a reliable, flexible…

APH Group appoints new CCO and CFO to further shape the future

APH Group announced that Albertus Kloosterman and Bart van Doorn joined the company as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Diseases occurring in the potato storage

Diseases that occasionally lead to considerable losses during storage include soft rot (Pectobacterium spp.), dry rot (Fusarium spp.), silver scurf (Helminthosporium), late blight (Phytophtora infestans), leak (Pythium) and pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica).

UK manufacturer to launch latest innovations into the United States

UK vegetable handling equipment manufacturer Haith recently announced it will be launching its Mobile Water Treatment System and PRO-Sort mobile optical grader into the United States at North America’s largest potato industry trade show, Potato Expo.