Abstract

P. C. Tripathi and K. E. Lawande

India is the second largest producer of onion in the world. A large quantity of onion is stored to fulfill domestic and export demand at ambient atmospheric conditions. The storage losses in these ambient atmospheric stores are high. To minimized storage losses and develop efficient onion storage structure, seven storage structures i.e. Traditional double row storage structure, Modified bottom ventilated storage structure, Top and bottom ventilated storage structure with mud-plastered walls, Modified bottom ventilated storage structure with chain linked side walls, Traditional single row storage structure, Modified bottom ventilated single row storage structure, Bottom ventilated single row low cost thatched roof storage structure, were designed and constructed at NRC for Onion and Garlic, Rajagurunagar, Pune, India. These storage structures were evaluated for storage of onion. The physiological loss of weight (PLW) was lowest (15.92 %) in Top and bottom ventilated structure with mud plaster walls followed by Bottom ventilated single row low cost thatched roof storage structure (17.44%). Physiological loss of weight was significantly lower in bottom ventilated structures (19.06%) as compared to traditional without bottom ventilated structures (22.11%). The rotting was significantly higher (22.72 %) in Traditional without bottom ventilated double row structure as compared Top and bottom ventilated structure with mud plastered sidewalls (7.52 %). The rotting was statistically lower in bottom-ventilated structures (12.69%) than traditional without bottom-ventilated structures (19.92%). The highest sprouting (3.29 %) was recorded in Modified bottom ventilated storage structure with chain-linked sidewalls. The net return per tonne was highest (Rs 1207- ) in Bottom ventilated single row low cost thatched roof storage structure. The findings of the experiment indicates that bottom ventilated structures were found efficient in reduction of storage losses in onion stored at ambient atmospheric conditions.