Evaluation of evaporative cool chambers using alternative materials for storage of horticultural produce

Study was conducted to evaluate performance of evaporative cool chambers using river bed sand and rice husk ash as alternative materials. Round the year performance was evaluated on the basis of the average environmental conditions of the four seasons. Two evaporative cool chambers were evaluated for round the year use for storage of horticultural produce and shelf life was studied inside evaporative cool chambers and ambient conditions. The average temperature inside the evaporative cool chamber with river bed sand (ECC RBS) and the evaporative cool chamber with rice husk ash (ECC RHA) was 8.6°C and 10.7°C lower whereas average relative humidity was 53% and 57% higher than the ambient, respectively. The shelf life of the horticultural produce kept inside the evaporative cool chambers could be enhanced significantly as compared to ambient storage and the evaporative cool chamber with rice husk ash (ECC RHA) was found to be more effective.