Dehydration studies in carnation flower

The experiment titled “Effect of Desiccants on Drying of Carnation Flowers” was conducted during the academic years 2015-16 and 2016-17 at the Department of Horticulture, Post Graduate Institute, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The aim was to determine the most suitable desiccant for drying carnation flowers. The study followed a Randomized Block Design with four replications. Six different drying methods were tested as treatments: air drying in the shade (control), drying after embedding in borax, clean fine sand, silica gel, a 1:1 glycerol-water mixture, and a 1:3 glycerol-water mixture. Significantly, maximum score (3.73, 3.70 and 3.71, respectively) was observed for aesthetic acceptability when flowers were embedded in silica gel, while it was recorded minimum (0.90, 0.85 and 0.88) in air drying under the shade. Flowers dried by embedding in silica gel scored significantly maximum (3.63, 3.75 and 3.69 respectively) points whereas, air drying under the shade scored minimum (1.03, 1.08 and 1.05, respectively) sensory scores for appearance. Flowers embedded in silica gel scored significantly higher sensory score (3.85, 3.88 and 3.86) for flower colour, while least score (1.88, 0.98 and 1.43) were recorded in air drying under the shade. Significantly maximum score (3.60, 3.55 and 3.58) for brittleness were observed in silica gel embedded drying whereas, it was found minimum (1.35, 1.58 and 1.46) in air drying under the shade. The flowers dried by embedding in silica gel scored significantly maximum (3.83, 3.88 and 3.73) points for shape, where as air drying under the shade scored minimum (1.83, 1.13 and 1.48) sensory points. Flowers dried by embedding in sand scored significantly higher sensory score (3.03, 3.13, and 3.08) for dry flower texture whereas, least score (1.03, 1.17 and 1.06) were found in air drying under the shade.