The efficiency of storage of cabbage broccoli depending on the type of packaging

Abstract

The heads of cabbage Broccoli have a limited shelf-life due to large natural weight losses and due to illness and physiological disorders. To overcome this and, consequently, increase the shelf-life, use different types of packaging.

As a result of the analysis of recent studies and publications, it was determined that when choosing a packaging material, researchers are advised to use a film of polyethylene thickness of 30–60 mcm, for the individual packaging of products, choose a stretch-film of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a stretch-film of polyvinyl chloride perforated.

The purpose of our research was to determine the economic efficiency of packing the heads of cabbage Broccoli depending on the peculiaritys of the hybrid. The subject of the study were hybrids of cabbage Broccoli Ironman F₁, Agassi F₁ and Beaumont F₁.

For storage used the central standard head of cabbage Broccoli. Before to storage, they were cooled to a storage temperature. Cabbage was stored in a refrigerating camera at a temperature of 0 ±1 °Cand a relative humidity of 90–95%.

Heads of cabbage Broccoli were kept: 1) in boxes without packing – control; with packing: 2) in boxes, lined with polyethylene film of 40 mcm, 3) in a stretch-film of PVC (polyvinylchloride) of 8 mcm, and 4) in a stretch-film perforated in the same thickness. Observations for heads of cabbage Broccoli was carried out in dynamics every five days.

The sample was taken out of storage, if natural weight losses was 10% or more and the product had symptoms of disease and physiological disorders. In the end of storage, the output of standard products was determined.

The article presents the results of the application of a 40 mcm polyethylene film, a stretch-film and a stretch-film perforated of 8 mcm for packing the heads of hybrids Ironman F₁, Agassi F₁ and Beaumont F₁ in order to lengthen the storage time. Our research has found that natural weight losses of cabbage Broccoli depended on the type of packaging: on average, over the years of research, they were at storage at the control – 12,7–18,5 % for five days. Significantly higher weight losses during storage in the control were characterized by the heads of the hybrid Agassi F₁, has less indicator – Ironman F₁.

The use of polyethylene film increased the storage time of hybrids Ironman F₁ and Beaumont F₁ up to 30 days, natural weight losses decreased by 2,6 and 3,5 times accordingly, compared to control. Heads of hybrid Agassi F₁, the storage time was extended to 20–25 days, natural weight losses decreased by 3,6–4,3 times.

Stretch-film packaging increased the storage time of heads of hybrids     Ironman F₁ and Beaumont F₁ up to 35 days, with natural weight losses, reduced by 5,5 and 11,4 times accordingly. The storage time of heads of the hybrid Agassi F₁extended to 30 days, natural weight losses decreased by 11,6 times compared with the control variant. The use of stretch-film perforated extended the duration of storage of cabbage Broccoli for five days compared to non-perforated. Natural weight losses at the end of storage were smaller compared to controls at 2,6–4,2 times depending on the hybrid.

During our research on the heads of cabbage Broccoli kept in control, diseases and physiological disorders were not observed, while when applying packaging products were impressed by anthracnose, gray rot and vascular bacteriosis. The loss of production of hybrids of cabbage Broccoli from illnesses and physiological disorders for storage in a polyethylene film for 30 days reached: in Ironman F₁ 16,6 %, in Beaumont F₁ – 14,7 % and in Agassi F₁ for 20 days – 18,1 %. Stretch-film packing caused the weight losses of heads from illness for 35 days in the heads of hybrids Ironman F₁ and Beaumont F₁ to 17,7 %, in Agassi F₁ for 30 days – 17,0 %. The storage of heads in a stretch-film perforated reduced the intensity of the development of pathogenic microorganisms, so the weight losses from them for 40 days of storage in Ironman F₁ and Beaumont F₁ was 14,2 % and 14,4 % accordingly, Agassi F₁ for 30 days – 14,7 % .

Output of standard products at the end of storage was higher in the control variant and was 81,5–87,3 % depending on the hybrid for five days storage. With the use of packaging, the smaller output of standard production of cabbage Broccoli was in variants with a polyethylene film – 78,1–80,7 %, packaging in a stretch-film perforated increased output of standard products to 80,9–83,1 % depending on the hybrid. The best preservation was at the heads of the hybrid Beaumont F₁.

Our calculations established that storage cabbage Broccoli without packing for five days had the lowest cost among experimental variants. The use of stretch-film and stretch-film perforated increased it by 6–8 %, and the polyethylene film – by 13–27 % depending on the hybrid. Thus, the profitability level of storage heads of cabbage Broccoli without packing for five days was 70,3–85,9 %. With the use of packaging materials, a higher level of profitability ensured storage of cabbage Broccoli in stretch-film – 59,4–69,4 % and stretch-film perforated – 59,1–68,4 % depending on the hybrid. The highest level of profitability was in Beaumont F₁: 68,4 % for storage in a stretch-film perforated and 69,4 % – in a stretch-film.

The higher level of profitability for long-term storage of heads of cabbage Broccoli provides their packing in a stretch-film – 59,4–69,4% and a stretch-film perforated – 59,1–68,4%. The highest level of profitability is obtained for storage the heads of the hybrid Beaumont F₁.

Key words: cabbage Broccoli, storage, loss of weight, hybrid, standard products, profitability