Comparison of yam storage techniques to reduce post Harvest losses with regard to effective storage structures in Ganye local Government Adamawa state – Nigeria

Abstract

T he objective is to study the effective techniques in reducing the physiological induce post-harvest losses in white yam (D.rotundata) in Ganye local Government of Adamawa State-Nigeria. The comparative techniques is to asses weight losses in interval of length of storage using the two method s; wooden box and excavate pit. Fresh sample of yam tubers were weighed and store in both techniques intermittently for duration of 16 weeks. At the end of every month the yam tubers in both methods were weighed and observation recorded. The duration of natural dormancy fluctuates with weight losses between 4 weeks to 16 weeks of storage length. Some of these losses are endogenous i.e. physiological and induced transpiration, respiration and germination. Available information from the experimental result shows that the percentage weight loss of yam tubers stored in wooden box increase to 4 months before sprouting, compare to the pit, which increase to 3 months before sprouting. The loss of fresh yam tuber reduces continuously during length of storage to average of 20 percentage due to ambient temperature and relative humidly during storage. Therefore, yam tubers stored in wooden box prolong the dormancy period for five months before sprouting. Experimental result revealed that yam tubers storage in wooden box is effective than in pit.