The most important task of a store manager is to lower the stress level of the potato so that it can preserve its energy reserves in the form of starch and prevent raising sugar levels as it attempts to survive storage.

But even before storage, potato stress occurs in the field. Disease pressure, excessive bruise damage, and warm harvest circumstances are just a few of the issues that potatoes endure on their way into storage. Potatoes in storage may be subjected to poorly planned, non-uniform air dispersion or variable temperatures. Potato rot, pressure bruise, or poor and non-uniform process quality are the end outcomes of these stressors. These stress factors have major economic effects, which must be addressed and recognized through potato storage management.

The storage ventilation system is the most important item in a store manager’s toolbox. The potatoes must receive consistent quality air throughout the storage season, especially when they are four to six weeks from the market. Weather fluctuations throughout marketing, such as freezing winter days or warm spring days, can have a significant impact on the quality of the potato when it reaches the processor. CO2 monitoring during changing weather conditions or at marketing time substantially aids managers in making storage ventilation selections.

“Elevated levels of CO2 are stressors to stored potatoes. When CO2 levels reach 2,500 parts per million, action should be taken for fresh air exchange to dilute the CO2. CO2 can build up when facility ventilation is reduced to control temperature and due to natural respiration rates relative to the life stage of the potato. The maturity of the potato dictates respiration levels. Immature potatoes have high respiration, mature potatoes low, and over-mature potatoes, again, high respiration as they go into hyperactive mode before the end of life,” Todd Forbush, Storage Systems Engineer, Techmark, explained.

Equal Air Distribution Through the Full Storage Area is the Most Important

When it comes to the expected time frame for CO2 management solutions installation and the initial costs, Jeroen van Kappel, Sales Director, Hotraco Agri, said that it depends on sizing, type of building, and type of solution. This can vary from a plug-and-play solution up to multiple weeks of installation.

The CO2 production of the crop is based on the dormancy state. Not only a store manager can learn a lot from the amount of CO2 production but based on time means that the ventilation is not adjusted to the actual CO2 production state.

You can read the rest of this article in your complimentary copy of Issue 2 of Potato Business Digital 2023 magazine, which you can access by clicking here.