Dr Bharti KashyapDIKSHA2024-03-192024-03-192023-12-28https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810207584The present investigation title “Standardization of drying method for the preparation of value-added products by resin embedding” was carried out in the research farm and floral craft laboratory of the department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during October, 2022 to June, 2023.The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Block Design (Factorial) with three flowering annuals viz., Viola tricolor, Helichrysum bracteatum and Limonium sinuatum and five drying methods viz., drying in silica gel, press drying in blotting paper, press drying in magazine paper, press drying in newspaper and press drying in wax paper. The flowers dried by various methods were subjected to embedded drying using various combinations of epoxy resin and hardener. The products made were paper weight of pansy, helichrysum and statice and keyring of pansy and statice using different formulations of epoxy resin. The results revealed that among different methods of drying, maximum moisture loss (46.39%) was observed when flowers were dried in silica gel, minimum days for drying (4.77) were recorded when flower crops were dried in silica gel, highest score for colour retention in flower crops (4.56) out of a total of 5 was observed in press drying in magazine paper, highest score for texture of flower (4.56) out of a total of 5 was observed in press drying in magazine paper. In general, press drying in wax paper followed by press drying in magazine paper proved to be superior over other methods of drying for retaining colour, texture, and shape of Viola tricolor, Helichrysum bracteatum and Limonium sinuatum for the preparation of value-added products by resin embedding. Among different methods of resin embedding, mixing ratio of epoxy resin and hardener (3:1) combined with a curing period of 48 hours yields the best results in terms of transparency, clarity, and overall appearance.EnglishThesis