Yves Spriet

Quality assessment of antishock systems for potatoes

SummaryLoading trailers and trucks includes a high risk for mechanical damage to potatoes, particularly when no anti-shock system is used. Manufacturers offer anti-shock equipment to reduce mechanical damage. A selection of anti-shock systems was compared.Firstly, the effect of protecting the product layer at the bottom of the trailer was investigated by dropping tubers in the empty trailer and analysing tissue discolouration and cracks. The combination of a shock absorber and a mattress yielded the highest bruise protection. Secondly, to investigate the bruising profile in the trailer and the damage reduction effect of each anti-shock system a bulk mass of potatoes was dumped into the trailer. Five hundred test potatoes were mixed into the bulk mass. Test potatoes were visually analysed for bruising and compared with controls (anti-shock systems absent). The results allowed the introduction of a mathematical relationship between drop height and tissue discolouration. Using an anti-shock system bruising was reduced by 10–90%, depending on the system and the bulk layer.On-field experiments were carried out to validate laboratory results. However site-specific harvest conditions and variable commodity properties made comparisons difficult.