Effects of Fermentation Periods and Drying Methods on Postharvest Quality of Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Beans in Ghana

Table 1

Proximate analysis and pH of cocoa varieties under different fermentation and drying periods.

Fermentation period (days)	Variety	Drying method	% Moisture content	% Free fatty acids	% Fat content	pH	% Nitrogen content	% Crude protein
4	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	6.90 ± 0.23^ab	41.67 ± 2.03^abcd	38.83 ± 1.96^e	5.49 ± 0.02^a	2.51 ± 0.07^abc	15.70 ± 0.46^abc
		Traditional sun dying	6.90 ± 0.23^ab	42.33 ± 1.76^abcd	29.83 ± 0.17^bc	5.56 ± 0.00^abc	2.61 ± 0.08^c	16.28 ± 0.51^c
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	6.80 ± 0.17^a	39.00 ± 1.73^abc	23.17 ± 0.44^a	5.63 ± 0.00^cde	2.55 ± 0.03^bc	15.94 ± 0.18^bc
		Traditional sun dying	6.83 ± 0.15^ab	36.00 ± 1.15^ab	30.33 ± 1.33^bcd	5.52 ± 0.01^ab	2.51 ± 0.02^abc	15.70 ± 0.15^abc
5	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	6.93 ± 0.23^ab	48.00 ± 3.21^abcd	23.00 ± 1.26^a	5.58 ± 0.01^abcd	2.26 ± 0.22^a	14.12 ± 1.39^a
		Traditional sun dying	7.13 ± 0.09^abc	44.00 ± 2.08^abcd	31.50 ± 1.04^bcd	5.72 ± 0.01^efg	2.59 ± 0.16^c	16.17 ± 1.02^c
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	7.30 ± 0.25^bcd	49.00 ± 3.79^bcd	27.83 ± 0.33^abc	5.66 ± 0.01^def	2.38 ± 0.09^abc	14.88 ± 0.53^abc
		Traditional sun dying	7.27 ± 0.15^abcd	34.67 ± 4.18^a	27.67 ± 0.88^abc	5.59 ± 0.01^bcd	2.53 ± 0.03^abc	15.82 ± 0.21^abc
6	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	7.47 ± 0.09^cd	41.67 ± 3.84^abcd	29.67 ± 1.86^bc	5.60 ± 0.02^bcd	2.46 ± 0.06^abc	15.35 ± 0.36^abc
		Traditional sun dying	7.67 ± 0.17^d	36.00 ± 3.46^ab	28.83 ± 0.88^bc	5.55 ± 0.01^abc	2.46 ± 0.02^abc	15.35 ± 0.15^abc
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	7.43 ± 0.12^cd	53.33 ± 3.28^d	26.67 ± 2.42^ab	5.74 ± 0.01^fg	2.58 ± 0.07^c	16.11 ± 0.44^c
		Traditional sun dying	7.50 ± 0.12^cd	47.67 ± 3.93^abcd	32.33 ± 4.04^cd	5.65 ± 0.12^def	2.60 ± 0.10^c	16.22 ± 0.65^c
7	Amazonian	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	7.67 ± 0.17^d	49.67 ± 16.23^bcd	29.33 ± 2.19^bc	5.78 ± 0.01^g	2.26 ± 0.09^a	14.12 ± 0.57^a
		Traditional sun dying	7.43 ± 0.12^cd	45.00 ± 2.89^abcd	35.17 ± 2.17^de	5.51 ± 0.01^ab	2.28 ± 0.05^ab	14.24 ± 0.32^ab
	Hybrid	Solar biomass hybrid dryer	7.53 ± 0.03^cd	52.00 ± 1.53^cd	30.33 ± 1.48^bcd	5.58 ± 0.00^abcd	2.29 ± 0.07^ab	14.30 ± 0.41^ab
		Traditional sun dying	7.50 ± 0.12^cd	40.33 ± 3.28^abcd	30.00 ± 2.47^bcd	5.58 ± 0.01^abcd	2.61 ± 0.14^c	16.28 ± 0.86^c

“±SE = standard error, mean with same letters in a column are not statistically different (5) from each other according to Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) procedure. Values bolded and underlined refers to samples with the highest concentration; bolded values represents samples with the lowest concentration.”