Extending Cucumber Shelf Life: A Comparative Study of Low-Cost Drip Cooling Systems Using Different Fabric Coverings

Aims: Postharvest losses of cucumbers pose significant challenges for small-scale farmers in developing regions due to limited access to modern cold storage. This study investigated the effectiveness of low-cost indigenous drip coolers with different fabric coverings as an alternative preservation method. Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and three replications. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Crop Science, Surigao del Norte State University – Mainit Campus, Mainit, Surigao del Norte, Philippines on March 1-20, 2024. Methodology: Cucumber fruits were stored in indigenous drip coolers constructed with various recycled fabric coverings. Treatment combinations were: T1 - Control ambient temperature, T2 - Alpha Gina fabric, T3 - Silk satin bedsheets, T4 – Cotton comforter, and T5 - Cotton Blanket. The study evaluated color change, firmness, shriveling index, visual quality rating, weight loss, and damage rate over 20 days storage period. Results: Significant differences in cucumber fruit quality emerged at different time points across various parameters. Differences in color change and firmness were observed on day 15 (p = 0.023), while shriveling and visual quality showed differences by day 20 of storage (p = 0.042 and p = 0.042, respectively). However, in terms of weight loss, the Alpha gina fabric significantly had the highest loss among fabric covers used (p = 0.038). Consistently, the control ambient group exhibited the poorest quality, while treatments like the cotton comforter and silk satin bedsheet were most effective in preserving cucumber quality. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of indigenous drip coolers in preserving cucumber quality, with silk satin bedsheets and cotton comforter coverings consistently outperforming other materials and ambient conditions. These coolers were effective in slowing color change, maintaining firmness, reducing shriveling, and preserving overall visual quality. The study highlights the importance of fabric selection in drip cooler design, with cotton comforter and silk satin bedsheet coverings likely offering better air circulation, moisture retention, and insulation.