Shyam Prasad Poudel* , Kalika Prasad Upadhyay, Chandrakanta Timilsina and Resham Bahadur Basnet

Directorate of Agricultural Research, Lumle, Kaski, Nepal

*Corresponding Author’s Email: shyampoudelpg@gmail.com

*Orcid ID:

Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative loss of cucumber at storage is a matter of great economic concern in Nepalese farmer condition. The experiments were conducted to find out the best method and available materials of storage at room condition to minimize the post-harvest loss of cucumber at Gandaki Province of Baradi, Tanahu from 27th April to 3rd September; Hemja, Kaski from 10th June to 25th June and 27th June to 11th July and at DoAR, Lumle from 20th August to 03rd September 2021. There were 10 treatments in RCBD with three replications. Every treatment had 5 no. of cucumber. Average length of one cucumber had 20-25 cm. The treatments were: Thin plastic packaging with no holes; with 4 punch holes; with 8 punch holes; cling wrap; Plastic crate only and treated water with 50 ppm chlorine, washed all cucumbers and arranged treatment 1 to 5 simultaneously. The treated cucumbers stored in normal room condition at, Baradi, Tanahu 25.90C average temp. and 62% RH; Hemja, Kaski was 25.00C average temp. and RH 84.5% and DoAR, Lumle was 21.90C and 82% RH during the trial period. The results revealed that the treatment cling wrap with or without 50 ppm chlorine water was appropriate to extend post-harvest shelf life of cucumber under ambient room temperatures of all tested sites. Therefore, the use of cling wrap should be recommended for wide dissemination in similar conditions.

Keywords: Cling wrap, chlorine water, 50 ppm, post-harvest loss, storage