Important Physical and Mechanical Properties of Dominant Potato Variety Widely Grown in Ethiopia

Abstract

The physical attributes of agricultural product are utmost essential in developing technologies for different unit operations. Pertinent potato tuber attributes were studied. 100 samples of dominant and popular potato tuber varieties grown in Ethiopia which are free from any injuries from each variety were obtained from Holeta Agricultural Research Center. In this study, the physical attributes of potato tubers were determined at a moisture content of 70.75, 69.99, 71.75, 69.70 and 72.38% (wet basis) for Belete, Jalenie, Gera, Gudene and Chala varieties, respectively. Except specific gravity of potato tuber, other physical properties studied were significantly different at 5% of level of significance. Analysis of variance showed that there is also a significant difference in coefficient of static friction and angle of repose of all potato tuber varieties under four different materials and dynamic coefficient of friction under mild steel sheet metal and galvanized sheet.