EFFECT OF MAGNETIC FIELD OF NEODYMIUM (NdFeB) MAGNET ON STORAGE QUALITY OF POTATOES

Modern techniques of potato tuber storage have a number of economic, technical, and technological disadvantages and they do not ensure high product safety - potato losses run up to 30 % per storage season. The work has been conducted on the effect of the magnetic field of neodymium (NdFeB) magnet on sprouting, weight loss and storage of potatoes, because this method is the most interesting and understudied. The equipment used in the research: equipment for magnetic potato treatment, NdFeB magnets, magnetometer to identify the positive and negative magnetic poles, and auxiliary instruments. As a result of the experimental studies it has been found that untreated potatoes had the weight loss of 39 %. The weight loss of potatoes treated with a positive magnetic field of 330...350 mT and time treatment 60...180 s was 4 %. The positive magnetic field of 330...350 mT was effective in suppressing sprout growth. It also inhibits the sprout growth in potatoes stored at 25 degrees C. Potatoes receiving more than 330...350 mT dose were higher in the length of sprouts, and higher weight loss of potatoes (20...50 %). Also, potatoes receiving a negative magnetic field dose were higher in the length of sprouts, and higher weight loss (60 %) than those given a positive magnetic field dose. As a result of the experiments, the design of a new device for magnetic processing of potatoes has been developed. It is anticipated that magnetic fields influence the potato cells, as the result of the effects, potato tubers either lack in moisture, starch and other substances, or lose them quickly due to the inner-structure destruction.