PH—Postharvest Technology: Effect of Moisture Content and Storage Temperature on Rate of Respiration of Alfalfa

Respiratory and colour characteristics of alfalfa chops at 14 and 20% moisture contents and 8 and 23°C storage temperatures under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and non-MAP conditions in sealed polyethylene packages with and without specific gas mixture (1% O2, 5% CO2 and 94% N2) were studied. The study indicated that an increase in storage period caused a proportional decrease in percent oxygen in the packages, thereby reducing the respiration rate of alfalfa chops under the MAP environment. Further, the samples stored at 23°C and without the MAP environment had a fungal growth and the colour of the samples was not as green as those kept at a temperature of 8°C.