Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales

The preservation of fresh produce can provide rural households with better diets all-year round and income by reducing their deterioration. Promotion of low-cost temporary storage technologies requires evidence of their effectiveness to attain conducive conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted...

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Main Authors: Erick Kiplangat Ronoh, Christopher Luchebeleli Kanali, Samuel Njuguna Ndirangu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2020-06-01
Series:Research in Agricultural Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/rae-202002-0004_effectiveness-of-an-evaporative-charcoal-cooler-for-the-postharvest-preservation-of-tomatoes-and-kales.php
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author Erick Kiplangat Ronoh
Christopher Luchebeleli Kanali
Samuel Njuguna Ndirangu
author_facet Erick Kiplangat Ronoh
Christopher Luchebeleli Kanali
Samuel Njuguna Ndirangu
author_sort Erick Kiplangat Ronoh
collection DOAJ
description The preservation of fresh produce can provide rural households with better diets all-year round and income by reducing their deterioration. Promotion of low-cost temporary storage technologies requires evidence of their effectiveness to attain conducive conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the preservation of tomatoes and kales. The cooler microclimate and outdoor conditions were investigated by measuring the air temperature and relative humidity. During the study period, the maximum temperature difference between the cooler and the outdoors was found to be 9.2 °C while the maximum relative humidity difference was 36.8%. Due to the presence of light rain and, consequently, low solar radiation, the temperature and relative humidity differences were significantly reduced. Despite the light rain, the cooler still registered a maximum relative humidity of 83.5% and a maximum cooling efficiency of 91.5%. Overall, the cooler demonstrated promising results in terms of favourable microclimate conditions, the shelf-life and colour changes for tomatoes and kales.
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spelling doaj.art-a71dbf48930e4c848fe34f412ca1a7f82023-02-23T03:47:56ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesResearch in Agricultural Engineering1212-91511805-93762020-06-01662667110.17221/52/2019-RAErae-202002-0004Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kalesErick Kiplangat RonohChristopher Luchebeleli Kanali0Samuel Njuguna Ndirangu1Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, School of Biosystems and Environmental Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, School of Biosystems and Environmental Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, KenyaThe preservation of fresh produce can provide rural households with better diets all-year round and income by reducing their deterioration. Promotion of low-cost temporary storage technologies requires evidence of their effectiveness to attain conducive conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the preservation of tomatoes and kales. The cooler microclimate and outdoor conditions were investigated by measuring the air temperature and relative humidity. During the study period, the maximum temperature difference between the cooler and the outdoors was found to be 9.2 °C while the maximum relative humidity difference was 36.8%. Due to the presence of light rain and, consequently, low solar radiation, the temperature and relative humidity differences were significantly reduced. Despite the light rain, the cooler still registered a maximum relative humidity of 83.5% and a maximum cooling efficiency of 91.5%. Overall, the cooler demonstrated promising results in terms of favourable microclimate conditions, the shelf-life and colour changes for tomatoes and kales.https://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/rae-202002-0004_effectiveness-of-an-evaporative-charcoal-cooler-for-the-postharvest-preservation-of-tomatoes-and-kales.phpcoolingefficiencyfresh producequalitystorage
spellingShingle Erick Kiplangat Ronoh
Christopher Luchebeleli Kanali
Samuel Njuguna Ndirangu
Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales
Research in Agricultural Engineering
cooling
efficiency
fresh produce
quality
storage
title Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales
title_full Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales
title_fullStr Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales
title_short Effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales
title_sort effectiveness of an evaporative charcoal cooler for the postharvest preservation of tomatoes and kales
topic cooling
efficiency
fresh produce
quality
storage
url https://rae.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/rae-202002-0004_effectiveness-of-an-evaporative-charcoal-cooler-for-the-postharvest-preservation-of-tomatoes-and-kales.php
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AT christopherluchebelelikanali effectivenessofanevaporativecharcoalcoolerforthepostharvestpreservationoftomatoesandkales
AT samuelnjugunandirangu effectivenessofanevaporativecharcoalcoolerforthepostharvestpreservationoftomatoesandkales