The Influence of Training System and Vine Row Structure on Losses during Mechanized Harvest

Abstract

Harvesting is one of the most complex operations in viticulture. High-quality harvest is one that is carried out during the technological maturity of grapes and that suits its purpose. The costs of hand picking of grapes represent a significant part of production costs, so the mechanized harvest of wine grape cultivars is more frequently done. The results of mechanized harvest of cultivars 'Vranac' and 'Zupljanka' are presented in this paper, in conditions of production area of Cemovsko polje locality (Montenegro). The influence of different training systems and vine row structures (the distance between pillars, vines and supporters) on losses made by vine harvesters has been observed. In mechanized harvest, the surface effect was 0.62 ha.h(-1) and losses were 360.03 kg.ha(-1) for cultivar 'Vranac', with biological yield of 10724 kg.ha(-1). While harvesting vine cultivar 'Zupljanka', the surface effect was 0.53 ha.h(-1) and losses were 696.50 kg.ha(-1), with biological yield of 9660 kg.ha(-1).