RAMACHANDRA C T, M. ANANTACHAR, SHARANAKUMAR HIREGOUDAR)MANJULA, B.2020-02-182020-02-182009-10-30100http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810143149The drying characteristics and quality evaluation of Byadagi chilli in two drying methods viz., solar tunnel dryer (STD) and open yard sun drying (OYSD) with different pre-treatments were investigated. Proximate composition of fresh Byadagi chilli viz., ash, fat, protein and crude fibre was estimated and found to be 8.32, 10.00, 15.67 and 0.26%, respectively as compared to dried samples. The time required for drying chilli in STD and OYSD was 39 and 57 hour respectively from initial moisture content of 339.14% (d.b.) to a final moisture content of around 10.00% (d.b.). Two drying models viz., Newton and Page models were tested and the Newton model described the best fit to the experimental data with R2, χ2, P, SSE and RMSE values of 0.99, 3.710-4, 0.016, 3.610-4 and 0.019, respectively. The physical attributes viz., extraneous foreign matter (16.67%), loose seeds (56.85%), broken chillies (54.68%) and damaged and discoloured chillies (52.85%) were found low in STD as compared to OYSD. The quality parameters viz., colour value (a*) was found high in citric acid pre-treatment (9.543) dried in STD as compared to dipsol pre-treatment (6.662) in OYSD. Ascorbic acid content was found high in citric acid pre-treatment (108.837 mg 100 g-1) dried in STD as compared to dipsol pre-treatment (94.492 mg 100 g-1) in OYSD. Capsaicin content was found high in KNO3 pre-treatment (0.130%) dried in STD compared to citric acid pre-treatment (0.040%) in OYSD. The aflatoxin content was found low in dipsol pre-treatment (0.024 g kg-1) dried in STD as compared to dipsol pre-treatment (0.051g kg-1) in OYSD. The drying time saved in STD was 31.57% as compared to OYSD. The cost of operation of chilli dried in STD and OYSD was Rs. 134/- and Rs. 44/- respectively, with a profit of Rs. 17,310/- per tonne as compared to OYSD.ennullThesis