AN APPROPRIATE SUGAR-BEET HARVESTING MECHANIZATION FOR BIG-SCALE PROJECT

Abstract

The aim of this research is to choose and evaluate the performance rate of three harvesting machines of sugar beet (lifting machine + topping machine, combined and self-propelled machines) appropriate with big scale projects with three different irrigation-systems (pivot, sprinkler and flood). The summarized results are: By using pivot irrigation-system, the maximum machine-performance rate of 3 fed/h ( 81 ton/h ) was obtained with forward speed of 6.5 km/h and 6-rows separated machines for topping and lifting of sugar beet. Meanwhile, the minimum machine-performance rate of 0.91 fed/h (24.30 ton/h) was obtained with forward speed of 3.5 km/h and 4-rows combined harvester of sugar beet. The maximum sugar-beet loss of 8 % was obtained with forward speed of 6.5 km/h, flood irrigation-system and combined harvesting-machine. Meanwhile, the minimum sugar-beet loss of 3.3 % was obtained with forward speed of 3.5 km/h, pivot system by using two machines for topping and lifting. The maximum lifting, loading and harvesting efficiencies of sugar-beet of 99.84, 97 and 96.7 % were obtained with forward speed of 3.5 km/h, pivot system by using two separated machines for topping and lifting. Meanwhile, the minimum sugar-beet lifting, loading and harvesting efficiencies of 99.6, 92.8 and 92 % was obtained with forward speed of 6.5 km/h, flood irrigation-system and combined harvesting-machine. The maximum sugar-beet yield of 27.2 ton/fed was obtained with forward speed of 3.5 km/h, pivot irrigation-system by using two machines for topping and lifting. Meanwhile, the minimum sugar-beet yield of 16 ton/fed was obtained with forward speed of 6.5 km/h, flood irrigation-system by using combined harvesting-machine. The minimum operation-costs were 17.75 L.E./ton (445.5 L.E./fed) by using 6-rows topping and lifting machines at forward speed of 3.5 km/h and pivot irrigation-system. Meanwhile, the maximum operation-costs and were 31.6 L.E./ton (780.9 L.E./fed) by using 4-rows combined harvester at forward speed of 3.5 km/h and flood irrigation-system.