College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh-362001 (Gujarat). E-mail:
Direct sun drying and solar cabinet drying characteristics of fish were studied under various treatments, leading to the development of relationships to predict the moisture ratio at given drying time. The results of the study revealed that whole fish on sand gave better performance in direct sun drying method but it resulted in poor product quality due to direct contact of sand with fish. The hung treatment in direct sun drying did not give better result whereas for solar cabinet drying of salted and split fish in hung condition gave the best performance. The initial moisture content of fish (525% db) could be reduced to desired level (100% db) in 16.0 hours under direct sun drying where as solar cabinet drying took 1/2 to 1/3 of time taken in direct sun drying treatments to reduce same level of moisture content.
