MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF SUN DRYING OF SLICED TOMATO IN HAWASSA REGION - ETHIOPIA

This study is focused on mathematical description of the open sun drying process of sliced tomato under the conditions of Hawassa region in Ethiopia. The sliced tomatoes were open sun dried by the method of sieves drying and also by the traditional Ethiopian method of drying on canvases. For both methods the mathematical models were determined and the processes were energetically analysed. The measured data were fitted by mathematical models using the Marquardt Levenberg method for non-linear data processing and were also statistically analysed by ANOVA. The integral part of this study is also comparison of both methods in terms of usability of local farmers as well as householders in Hawassa region.