Commercial evaluation of storage solutions for enhanced application of CIPC

Until its final use in October 2020, CIPC was the most important sprout suppressant used in GB potato stores. Because of its importance, AHDB Potatoes funded a programme of research on CIPC covering the efficiency of application, its uniformity of distribution in stores, residue removal and alternatives to CIPC.

In this project, modifications were made to commercial box stores with the aim of improving the CIPC residue distribution. The modifications focussed on the use of active recirculation of air/fog and included simple, low-cost hardware alterations as well as more fundamental changes in air delivery. 

Assessments were carried out at commercial store unloading to facilitate sample retrieval and therefore storage duration was variable. Residue distribution was measured using three individual tubers per location, analysed separately, and efficacy assessed using 25 tubers, selected randomly from netted samples placed in boxes at store loading. Stores holding crops across a range of varieties for both the fresh market and processing sectors were assessed.

A simple ‘open suction’ conversion, consisting of an air separator curtain and low-speed recirculation of CIPC fog through open pallet apertures using the store ventilation system, resulted in effective control of residue distribution and good sprout control. Ventilated plenums offer an alternative and performed adequately with slow speed, active recirculation but need to be tailored to take account of individual storage environments and hardware characteristics.