Application of modern technical solutions such as platform in pome fruit harvesting

Abstract

Mechanized harvesting processes of table pome fruits are an issue of major concern. Although there has been substantial enhancement in the mechanization used in pome fruit orchards, manual harvesting is known to be primarly employed. Modern technical solutions focused on platforms are used in order to increase output and eventually productivity. The objective of the study was to obtain data with regard to the application of self propelled platform, a modern technical solution used in apple harvesting. Investigations were conducted in 9-year old orchards using cultivars Idared, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith. Spindle bush growing orchards with interrow and row spacing 3,6x1.5 -1,7m was employed. The platform was investigated on a plot size of 3,66ha with 53 rows and an average number of 120 trees yielding 19,5hg/tree. Manual harvesting only was used as the control. Based on the results obtained harvesting time amounted to 520 minutes or 86,7%, aggregate turning time at the end of the row was 464 minutes or 77,4%. The total time for palette box change amounted to 41 minutes or 6,8% and halting time needed to take down palette boxes was 15 minutes or 2,5%. The number of harvested trees per shift was 600, i.e. the average time needed to harvest a tree was 0,45min. Output per apple picker was determined to be about 100kg at average fertility of 20kg/tree and engaging 8 apple pickers. Harvest output using the platform was found to be affected by orchard conditions, personnel training, harvest organization (delivering empty and loading full palette boxes). Orchard conditions are primarily characterized by the growing method, plant distribution, crown height, row length, fertility per tree, fruit size, variety, interrow area etc. Technical parameters of the platform need permanent improvement in order to raise harvest output.

U radu su prikazani rezultati eksploatacionih ispitivanja samohodne platforme savremenog tehničkog rešenja primenjene u procesu berbe jabuka. Ispitivanja su obavljena u zasadu starosti devet godina na sortama: Ajdared, Jonagold Zlatni delišes i Greni Smit. Zasad je međurednog i rednog rastojanja 3,6 x 1,5-1,7m, uzgojnog oblika vretenasti žbun. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da je prinos plodova po stablu u znatnoj meri varirao po pojedinim sortama a u proseku iznosio je 19,5kg/stablu. U toku dana optimalno vreme za berbu je bilo 10h od koga proizvodno vreme je iznosilo 520min što čini 86,7%. Sam proces berbe u toku dana je trajao 464min odnosno 77,4%. Za date uslove zasada uz pomoć ispitivane platforme koju su opsluživali osam radnika postignut je učinak po jednom beraču u proseku 300kg/h, obzirom da je učinak pri ručnoj berbi bez pomoćnih sredstava iznosi u proseku 100kg, predstavlja odnos 3:1.