Mechanized harvesting of leafy parsley crops in the region of South Banat

Abstract

So far, many types, styles and sizes of mowing equipment has been developed and introduced in the agricultural practice. Therefore, leaf crops harvesting seems to be easier to mechanize with respect to other cultivars. However, keeping the leaf matter clean and loaded into a dryer without contaminants limits the kind of mechanization that can be used. In this paper is given a general review of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) crops properties, possible benefits of its applications and basic principles of mechanized growing technology. In addition a simplified agroeconomical calculation of the production costs against possible income from sold vegetables, based on current prices expressed in euros is also provided. This way, the production of Parsley herbs is justified from medical, nutritive, culinary and economical points of view. Finally, results of testing three harvesters of different design, applied for collecting and preparation of parsley leaves at parcels in the region of south Banat (North Serbia) are presented and analysed. Measurements comprehended following working parameters: harvester velocity, loss of acquired crop and cutting lengths distribution of parsley leafs.

Do sada je razvijen i uveden u poljoprivrednu proizvodnju veliki broj tipova i konstrukcija mašina za košenje. Stoga se čini da je mehanizovanje žetve lisnatih useva lakše u poređenju sa ostalim kulturama. Ipak, očuvanje čistoće lisnatih useva i njihov utovar u sušare bez neželjenih kontaminanata ograničava vrstu opreme koja se može koristiti. U radu je prikazan opšti pregled opreme i postupaka za mehanizovano ubiranje peršuna (Petroselinum crispum). Na osnovu uprošćene ekonomske analize, zasnovane na tekućim cenama u Srbiji izraženim u evrima, potvrđena je opravdanost uzgoja ove poljoprivredne kulture sa ekonomske tačke gledišta. Konačno, prikazani su i analizirani rezultati uporednog testiranja tri kombajna različite konstrukcije, primenjene za sakupljanje i pripremu lišća peršuna na parcelama u regionu južnog Banata (severna Srbija). Merenjem su obuhvaćeni: brzina kombajna, gubici sakupljenog useva i raspodela dužina isečenih frakcija peršuna.