The two critical environmental factors involved in properly storing potatoes are temperature and humidity. Adequate and unrestricted air movement is also necessary to maintain constant temperature and humidity throughout the storage pile, and to prevent excessive shrinkage from moisture loss and decay.

There is a very fragile equilibrium that needs to be maintained in order to successfully store potatoes, and failure to control every variable in the equation results in a less than optimal product.

Potato Business Digital reached out to storage specialists from Tolsma, Martin Lishman and Farm Electronics, to gain insights into the challenges of producing control systems that can manage the store environment for best results.

Optimal Environment

The storage temperature affects the curing and wound healing processes, disease spread and severity, the sugar-starch relationships, and respiration. Respiration, in turn, influences dormancy or sprouting, and weight loss. It is also essential during the entire storage period to maintain a relative humidity level above 90% to prevent weight loss.

“The challenge is to adapt the climate computer to the required circumstances and at the same time the weather conditions can be an obstacle in achieving this. So, in the ideal situation, we need ventilation, refrigeration and heating to have all tools available when needed,” says Jan van Maldegem, Tolsma product manager. “The computer has to be set to the right phase: drying/wound healing, storage or heating and the settings have to be made in accordance with the situation of the crop. Then the climate control computer will run the algorithm and start its job.”

Air movement may not be necessary during the curing period, because the heat and moisture generated by the potatoes may provide an environment that is favorable for wound healing, but subsequently it becomes an important factor to consider.

“Many of our units use ambient ventilation when the conditions are correct and only run the refrigeration system when required. We believe the quality of the stored crop is the primary job therefore the equipment needs to run when the crop needs it regardless of energy efficiency. We choose specific fans for each project to keep energy efficiency at an optimum. We work hard with our suppliers and our internal production to make sure we use the best materials available to try and keep the cost of maintenance low and the longevity of the equipment high,” says Adam Fryer, commercial director, Farm Electronics.

You can read the rest of this article in the Autumn Issue of Potato Business Digital magazine, which you can access by clicking here.