Comparison of Product Losses and Foreign Material Separation Efficiencies of Hazelnut Harvesting Machines under Different Orchard Yield Conditions

Abstract

In this study, the possibilities of using the prototype manufactured hazelnut harvesting machine with a mechanical efficient harvesting unit and hazelnut harvesting machine with a pneumatic efficient harvesting unit in the mechanical harvesting of hazelnuts grown in flat and near flat land conditions were examined and the product losses and the efficiency values of separating foreign materials were determined to reveal how these machines affect the hazelnut harvesting system. For this purpose, the trials were carried out under five different orchard yield conditions (71.74, 143.48, 215.23, 286.97, and 358.72 kg ha-1). As a result of the experiments, the product loss and foreign material removal efficiency obtained by hazelnut harvesting with a hazelnut harvesting machine with a mechanical effective harvesting unit were determined between 34.39-37.92% and 96.91-95.62%, respectively. The product losses and foreign material removal efficiency values obtained by hazelnut harvesting machine with pneumatic effective harvesting unit were determined between 6.84-5.07% and 93.33-86.73%, respectively. The data to be obtained as a result of the study, in addition to examining the mechanical harvesting of hazelnuts, will enable the reasons for the changes that may occur in the performance characteristics of existing machines to be explained and suggestions can be made for improvement.