The technology of storing potatoes and onions in a gas environment using a natural growth inhibitor of ethylene was developed more than 20 years ago in the UK.
Currently, Restrain's technology is successfully used in more than 40 countries around the world. In our country, the Restrain technology has been known for more than seven years, the official supplier of equipment and technology for its application is the company LLC PEYA Agro.
The introduction of the technology allows agricultural producers to increase the shelf life of table, seed, chip potatoes and potatoes for processing into fries, as well as onions, maintaining high quality and complete environmental safety.
Efficiency of application
Restrain technology is used when storing table potatoes: thanks to the effect of ethylene, the tubers remain in perfect condition (they retain turgor and do not germinate) until the new crop.
The use of this technology is very effective in storing seed potatoes: treatment with ethylene at a certain temperature regime leads to an increase in the number of sprouts on the tubers, which subsequently leads to an increase in the number of stems and an increase in the number of tubers, and also affects the evenness of the fraction of potatoes.
Ethylene has been used successfully in the storage of potato chips and potatoes for the production of fries. Products stored in a gas environment have the same qualities as those that underwent chlorprofam treatment (which is confirmed by the results of domestic and foreign Research). At the same time, storage with ethylene is economically more profitable, moreover, gas does not accumulate in tubers and on surfaces in storage.
Restrain technology also helps to significantly reduce storage losses of onions. The constantly maintained gaseous medium prevents diseases from developing; the bulbs are protected from germination. In addition, the product itself, which has been treated with ethylene, does not contain any toxic compounds and, therefore, is absolutely safe for consumption (which is very important, given that onions are often used in raw form).
Restrain technology is based on the ability of natural gas ethylene to suppress cells responsible for growth.
The creation of an ethylene atmosphere in the storage is provided by the Restrain generator: it is very compact (dimensions: 46cm * 40 cm * 52 cm; weight: 16 kg) and an easy-to-use system.
After the start of the generator, the gas is evenly distributed in the storage for 30 minutes.
The equipment is easy to install and connect (only an outlet is needed to start), the technology does not require additional reconstruction and modification of storage facilities. The Restrain generator is configured to maintain the required low level of ethylene concentration in the room throughout the entire storage period.
A certain low level of gas concentration (measured and regulated by the Restrain sensor-sensor) is then maintained during the entire storage period.
Volatile gas is distributed throughout the entire volume of the product, regardless of how the crop is stored: in bulk, in containers or bags.
Experience in use in Russia
Alexander Firsov, Head of Plant Production Department, Dmitrov Vegetables Group, Moscow Region
- Our company has been using Restrain technology for storing table potatoes for over 5 years. Initially, we installed this equipment in a test mode. During the year, we saw that the ethylene generator really works, the growth processes in the tubers stop, until the moment of sale the potatoes retain the proper quality.
We ship the last lots of potatoes at the end of June, and they correspond to all the wishes of the customer.
Alexey Zhuravlev, General Director of LLC "Agrocenter" Korenevo "
- We have been using Restrain equipment for two years. In an ethylene atmosphere we store seed potatoes of high reproductions: the first field generation and super-super-elite.
Restrain technology helps us to solve two problems at once.
First, with its help, potatoes do not germinate before the time we need. This is important for us.
The fact is that the potatoes in LLC "Agrocenter" Korenevo "are grown in the fields located in the Meshchera lowland, and these lands are distinguished by the close occurrence of groundwater. We start landing no earlier than May 10-15. But in the Moscow region already in April, as a rule, the weather is warm, and we were unable to maintain such a temperature in the storage (not equipped with a refrigeration unit) that the potatoes would not germinate. After the Restrain equipment was installed in the vault, we solved this problem.
Second: after we turn off the installation (two weeks before planting), almost all "dormant" sprouts wake up in the potato tubers. This is not always the case with traditional storage. Moreover, there are varieties with apical dominance, such tubers usually have only one or two sprouts, and there is always a risk of breaking them off when planting. Now the loss of a small part of the shoots will not affect the result in any way.
I also note that an increase in the number of sprouts leads to an increase in the number of stolons: tubers stored using ethylene technology form five to six (and sometimes up to eight) stolons. As a result, the yield increases, which is very pleasing not only to us, but also to all the buyers of LLC Agrocenter Korenevo: we sell seed potatoes to large enterprises, farms, and amateur gardeners.
Considering all this, this year we are planning to rent another Restrain installation and put it in a second potato storage facility.
127411, Moscow, Dmitrov highway, 157, bld. 11, of. 11102
Phone: +7 (495) 980 09 74;
Daniil Ravich, Business Development Manager
+7 920 591 18 35 E-mail: d.ravich@peja.ru
Dmitry Santalov, storage specialist
+7 964 701 60 99 E-mail: santalov@peja.ru
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