Effect of Storage Methods and Period on the Physiological and Nutrient Components of Livingstone Potato (Plectranthus esculentus) in Abia State, Nigeria

Livingstone potato production in Nigeria is faced with the challenge of high postharvest losses. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of some storage methods on the physiological and nutritional quality of livingstone potato. Potatoes were separated and stored using eight different methods: potatoes stored in3x3x3 ft pits and covered with sand under the shade (T1), potatoes stored in3x3x3 ft pits and covered with ash under the shade (T2), potatoes stored in3x3x3 ft pits and covered with rice husk under the shade (T3), potatoes stored in3x3x3 ft pits and covered with a wood shavings under the shade (T4), potatoes spread on a bamboo platform under the shade(T5), potatoes spread on a raffia palm platform under the shade(T6), potatoes spread on concrete pavement inside the barn (T7), potatoes spread on the ground under the shade(T8), potatoes buried under the ground (T9). T8 was used as the control treatment. Temperature and relative humidity of the environment was monitored, the roots were weighed monthly to access the weight loss, sprouting and rot were observed visually and proximate composition of the stored roots were evaluated using standard methods. The lowest percentage weight loss was observed in samples stored in a pit covered with wood ash and those covered with river sand. Samples stored in pits and covered with wood shavings, wood ash and river sand had the lowest percentage of sprouting (1.63%, 3.45% and 6.06% respectively). The dry matter content increased with storage period in all the storage methods. The starch yield varied in the different storage methods with the samplescovered with river sand (13.45%) and the samples buried underground in the field(10.53%) giving the highest starch yield at the end of the storage period. Samples stored under rice husk had the highest ash content (4.77%) while the crude fibre and crude protein contents were highest in the samples spread on raffia palm. The results showed that spreading on the floor or on top of pavements are not good storage methods for living stone potato, however, storage in pits with alternate layers of river sand, wood ash and wood shavings are the best storage methods for livingstone potato.