Sun drying of figs: an experimental study

In this work, the sun drying behaviour of figs was investigated. Drying experiments were conducted for figs (Ficus carica) grown in Iskenderun-Hatay, Turkey. The constant rate period is absent from the drying curve. The drying process took place in the falling rate period. The drying data were fitted to the different mathematical models such as Lewis, Henderson and Pabis, Page, Logarithmic, Two-term, Two-term exponential, Verma et al. and Wang and Singh models. The performance of these models was investigated by comparing the determination of coefficient (R-2), reduced chi-square (chi(2)) and root mean square error (RMSE) between the observed and predicted moisture ratios. The results showed that the Verma et al. model was found to satisfactorily describe the sun drying curve of figs with a R-2 of 0.9944, chi(2) of 0.000483 and RMSE of 0.062857. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.